Introduction of the second pension pillars in Central and Eastern European countries represents a unique political, social and economic experiment. This paper offers the overview of this paradigmatic shift, taking into account both domestic factors, the role of international financial institutions and the European Union. Ten out of eleven countries — newcomers to the European Union — decided to implement it. Slovenia stayed aside from the beginning. Poland, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania offer a rich and diverse trajectory of the time and conditions of its introduction, further development, in some instances retrenchment, and the scope of benefits for retired insured persons. Hungary was a pioneering country, but later on, it left the camp and dropped this option. The issue the paper deals with is the case of the Czech Republic in more detail. The country was a latecomer, opted just for its voluntary version, and cancelled it completely again just after three years of operation. Concluding remarks address the emerging experience with reform outcomes and a potential role of the European Union as one of the actors influencing pension reforms in the region.