Brussels, 21/02/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 21 February, the European Commission decided to initiate proceedings against the Netherlands at the EU Court of Justice for failure to comply with EU legislation on the coordination of national social security systems.
The Hague has failed to notify the European institution of its national measures aimed at putting an end to discrimination against pensioners living abroad when paying out an allowance for elderly taxpayers. Dutch law provides for the allowance to be paid to persons aged 65 years and over who can show that at least 90% of their world income is taxable in the Netherlands. This condition means that, in practice, the allowance is not granted to people living outside the Netherlands.
The Commission considers the measure discriminatory. It is backed up on this by European rules on the coordination of social security schemes whereby the right to an old age benefit cannot be conditional on the pensioner living in the member state where he or she claims the benefit. In accordance with that rule, pensioners may settle in another member state without losing the right to their pension. (MB/transl.jl)