Background
The Society seeks to make an impartial contribution to public debate on social policy and public interest matters where an actuarial perspective can add value.  In this context, the Society has decided to commission research as set out below.

On 16 May 2012, the European Commission published a proposed directive of the European Parliament and the Council in order to amend the deadline for the transposition and subsequent implementation of the Solvency II Framework Directive (Directive 2009/138/EC).
 
The proposed Directive says:

The latest version of The European Actuary (TEA), the biannual magazine of the Dutch actuarial association, ‘Actuarieel Genootschap & Actuarieel Instituut’, the German association, ‘Deutsche Aktuarvereinigung’, the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries in the United Kingdom (‘The Actuarial Profession’) and the French ‘Institut des Actuaries’ is now available online.  Visit www.the-european-actuary.org.
 

From the UK Actuarial Profession's ERM Newsletter, March 2012:
 
"We are pleased to announce that the CERA Treaty Board has recently granted approval to the application from the UK Actuarial Profession to award the CERA qualification to Thought Leaders and Verifiable Experienced Practitioners.

Over the next few months, the identification and confirmation of Thought Leaders will begin. This will be done using a Selection Panel and will be by invitation only.

The key criteria for a Thought Leader are:

The plenary vote on Omnibus II in the European Parliament has been rescheduled from 17 April 2012 to 2 July 2012.  Read Central Bank of Ireland update. 

From a press release issued by the Groupe Consultatif: 
 
"EU Public Hearing of IORPs: Groupe Consultatif dismisses pensions comparable to insurance
 

From the UK Financial Reporting Council today (30th January 2012):

ASB issues revised proposals for the Future of Financial Reporting Standards in the UK & Republic of Ireland

The Accounting Standards Board (ASB) of the Financial Reporting Council has today published financial reporting exposure drafts (FREDs) 46 to 48 setting out revised proposals for the future of financial reporting in the UK and Republic of Ireland.

In April 2011, the European Commission asked EIOPA  for advice on the EU-wide legislative framework for IORPs (Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision).