The proposals put forward by the German Pension Commission were unveiled on 23 June by their authors in the presence of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and Labour Minister Bärbel Bas (SPD). The two leaders of the governing coalition want to implement all of the recommendations, which they see as the only way to achieve a coherent stabilisation of pension levels. Some of the measures directly affect businesses, including the introduction of funded pensions and restrictions on phased early retirement schemes.
On 23 June, the Commission on Pension Reform finally presented its highly anticipated report, consisting of 76 pages and 33 recommendations. The presence of Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Labour Minister Bärbel Bas at the presentation highlighted the political importance of the reform in a country facing demographic ageing and economic slowdown. Both politicians have expressed their intention to adopt the recommendations “100%”, arguing that this is the only way to achieve the desired stabilising effects. Friedrich Merz estimated that, following the drafting of legislation and discussions across the country, the reform could be adopted during the second half of 2026.
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