WRITTEN QUESTION E-2514/02 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Applicant countries and Regulation (EEC) 1408/71.
Date: 2002-09-09
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Central and Eastern European countries, German Democratic Republic, Greece, accession negotiations, migrant worker, pension scheme, social security, transfer of pension rights

C 280 E/4

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

21.11.2003

Discussions in the Working Group of the Council dealing with conventional arms transfers (COARM),
in which the Commission participates, contribute to develop a common understanding and possibly over
time a ‘common doctrine’ for the implementation of the Code by the Member States. Annual reports are
published both at national and Union level and they contribute to enhance transparency in this field.
Proposals in COARM to develop the Code to a legally binding instrument have not met with approval by
all Member States. A number of third countries have pledged to subscribe to the principles of the Code.
The Union also promotes the application of these principles by the associated countries.

(2003/C 280 E/004)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2514/02

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

Subject: Applicant countries and Regulation (EEC) 1408/71

(9 September 2002)

After 1984, many Greek nationals who had fled during the Greek civil war of 1945-1949 to Poland, the
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, Hungary, the former German Democratic Republic, Bulgaria, Romania
and elsewhere as political refugees were repatriated. Since returning to Greece,
these Greeks have
encountered a considerable number of problems despite the conclusion of bilateral agreements concerning
their social security rights with the above countries because their recognised period of contributions was
appreciably reduced and the nature of their work (e.g. heavy, unhealthy jobs) not taken into consideration.
Despite their advanced years, therefore, they are compelled to work on well into old age to obtain a
pension capable of sustaining a decent standard of living.

Will the Commission’s talks with the above applicant countries cover the problems associated with the
social security rights acquired by Greek political refugees whilst working in those countries, following the
arrangements made for
refugees in the former German Democratic Republic
(Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 (1))?

the Greek political

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(15 October 2002)

Under bilateral agreements concluded between Greece and several Eastern European countries, Greece has
agreed to recognise periods during which Greek nationals worked in these countries for the purpose of
calculating pension payments. This was done to protect the pension rights of these people which might
otherwise have been lost. Thus the pensions are now paid by Greece. How to treat these recognised
periods has been decided by the Greek authorities and is a question of national competence. Any query
regarding the way these periods have been recognised should therefore be addressed to the Greek
authorities.

With accession, those Greek citizens affected will have the opportunity, should they so wish, to request a
recalculation of their pensions on the basis of Community provisions. However, considering the lower
level of pension payments in Eastern European countries, this would be unlikely to result in a more
favourable pension entitlement (cid:1) it will probably be more beneficial to retain the existing pension, as
currently calculated and paid by Greece.

No special arrangements were foreseen for Greek nationals who worked in the former German Democratic
Republic. An existing agreement on pension rights was incorporated into Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of
the Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their
families moving within the Community, and this therefore continues to apply. Discussions have taken
place in the Administrative Committee on Social Security for Migrant Workers established under this
Regulation on the entries to include in its annexes. As a result of these discussions, in which both Member
States and candidate countries were involved, none of the agreements concluded with the candidate
countries are to be incorporated into the Regulation as an annex. However, not including these agreements
under the Regulation in no way prevents individuals from requesting a recalculation of his or her
entitlements.