Pensions process eased by Euro Parliament bill

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 11th Jul 2008

Women will benefit at retirement from new legislation passed by the European Parliament in Strasbourg this week. The measures will assist and simplify procedures for national authorities in processing cross border cases, where citizens have paid into the national social security schemes in other European Member states.

Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson, who represents the South West and Gibraltar supported the measures and commented;

"With increasing numbers of people taking up the opportunity to live and work in different parts of Europe this is good news. It will be much easier and quicker for our authorities to take into account their national insurance contributions when deciding peoples pension payments or sickness benefits.

I am pleased that the rules clarify periods which are taken by parents to look after children when living abroad will be treated just as they are in their own country.

The moves will especially help female pensioners who all too often lose out with inadequate pensions."

Graham went on to comment;

"Women should not be at risk of poverty and should be able to enjoy a decent standard of living."