U2P Withdraws from French Pension Reform Talks

The small business group cites structural deficits and inadequate proposals, marking the first employer organization to leave the negotiations.

The Union of Proximity Businesses (U2P) announced its withdrawal from France's pension reform negotiations, which began in late February 2025.
U2P criticized the 2023 pension reform for its projected €30 billion deficit by 2045 and called for drastic measures to address financial imbalances.
Key proposals from U2P include raising the retirement age beyond 64, except for physically demanding jobs, and transferring certain social charges to other funding sources.
The French Minister of Labor, Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, expressed regret over U2P's departure but emphasized the importance of continuing discussions with remaining stakeholders.
U2P also advocated indexing pensions below inflation for most retirees, except for the most modest, to ensure fiscal sustainability.