EU Takes Germany and Italy to Court Over Discriminatory Family Allowances

The European Commission has referred Germany and Italy to the European Court of Justice, citing discriminatory practices regarding family allowances for mobile workers in both countries. Italy requires workers to have resided for at least two years, while Germany offers reduced benefits for workers with children in lower-cost EU nations.

The European Commission announced on Thursday its decision to refer Germany and Italy to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over discriminatory practices affecting mobile workers.

Both countries had introduced schemes that provided unequal family allowances to different groups of workers in recent years.

In Italy, eligibility for benefits required a minimum two-year residency, while Germany offered smaller allowances for workers with children in EU countries where the cost of living is lower.

(With inputs from agencies.)