30/09/2016
Article 7 of Law 4387/2016 adopted by the Greek Government states that ‘the National Pension shall be paid to beneficiaries, if they have resided permanently and legally in Greece for at least 15 years, between the 15th year and the year in which they complete the prescribed age limit for payment of the pension’ and ‘its amount shall be reduced for old-age pensioners by 1/40 for each year that falls short of 40 years of residence in Greece, between the 15th year and the year in which they complete the prescribed age limit for payment of the pension’.
Therefore, by these provisions, the Government has introduced discrimination between third-country nationals and EU citizens, grossly violating the minimum threshold of decent living for these citizens, as third-country nationals may receive a lower pension than the Greek national pension. It would certainly be lower than the pension for EU citizens with the same number of years insured.
In view of this:
1. Is the requirement of residence time in the country, rather than only the years of contributions and insurance, an infringement of EU principles of freedom of movement and residence?
2. What initiatives will the Commission take to protect the statutory minimum threshold of decent living, as the pension received by these citizens could even amount to as little as EUR 300?
