WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3/98 by Alexandros ALAVANOS to the Commission. Pension rights for the elderly long-term unemployed
17. 7. 98 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 223/79 (98/C 223/97) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0003/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 January 1998) Subject: Pension rights for the elderly long-term unemployed According to the National Statistical Office of Greece, long-term unemployment has soared and accounts for more than 50% of the unemployed. One particular category of the long-term unemployed is elderly people who have already reached pensionable age but do not have the required number of years of contributions to retire under Greek law and remain unemployed. 1. Are there favourable provisions applying to such cases under the laws of the member States? If so, in which States? 2. Is it not fair to claim a pension from the contributions paid into the social security fund? Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (13 March 1998) With regard to the matter raised by the Honourable Member, the Commission wishes to point out that, as far as the organisation and operation of social protection schemes is concerned, the Member States are free to lay down their own rules, subject to compliance with the Community legislation relating to equal treatment for men and women: Article 119 of the EC Treaty, Directive 79/7/EEC (1) and Council Directive 96/97/EC of 20 December 1996 amending Directive 86/378/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes (2); the rules governing social security for migrant workers (Council Regulations 1408/71 and 574/72 of 21 March 1972 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community (3), as amended) also apply. The competent authorities of the Member States have sole responsibility for matters such as the payment of benefits to unemployed persons who have reached pensionable age or claims made on the basis of contributions paid into a pension fund. The Commission does not have any information on favourable provisions applying in certain Member States as regards unemployed persons who have reached the statutory pensionable age. (1) OJ L 6, 10. 1. 1979. (2) OJ L 46, 17. 2. 1997. (3) OJ L 74, 27. 3. 1972. (98/C 223/98) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0004/98 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (29 January 1998) Subject: Waste batteries On 19. 12. 1997, the Commission announced its decision to take action against Greece in the European Court of Justice for failure to implement Directive 91/157/EEC (1) on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances. 1. Does the Commission have information on how such waste is disposed of in Greece? 2. What are the legal arguments against Greece? 3. Given that the Member States were to submit their programmes by September 1992, why has the Commission initiated proceedings after five years? (1) OJ L 78, 26. 3. 1991, p. 38