The European Commission today requested Malta to stop reducing Maltese old-age pensions by the amount of civil servant pensions received from other EU member states.
Maltese legislation introduced by a Labour Government in the 70's provides that Maltese statutory old-age pensions are partly decreased by the sum of service pensions paid for past services in Malta or abroad.
According to the Commission, such a practice breaches social security coordination rules of the European Union as all pensions based on national legislation, such as civil service pensions, fall under the protection of the EU rules on social security coordination. This prohibits the application of national rules on suspension and reduction of benefits to a pension calculated under social security coordination rules.
The request made by the Commission takes the form of a 'reasoned opinion' under EU infringement procedures.
Malta now has two months to inform the Commission of measures it has taken to bring its legislation into line with EU law. Otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer Malta to the EU's Court of Justice.
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