EU Commissioners are to meet today to discuss proposals to outlaw the use of gender in setting prices for consumers.
The proposals from Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, are aimed at improving access to insurance for women.
But the ABI said they would have the opposite effect, and would raise the cost of motor and life insurance for women, at the same time as reducing the average household income from annuities, most of which are held by men.
Mary Francis, director general of the ABI said: "The insurance industry is opposed to unfair discrimination of any kind and we will work within whatever rules are set by government and society. But in this case, it is only right that we point out the likely results."
"Commissioner Diamantopoulou has started with the best of intentions, but this piece of EU legislation will do no-one any good."
