European Court of Justice

ITALY - The European Commission has once again put pressure on Italy to equalise the pension age of men and women, asking the country to move up its plans to have employees retiring at the same age by six years to 2012.

GERMANY/ EUROPE - The European Commission has referred Germany to the European Court of Justice for imposing tax rules that result in higher taxes on dividends paid to foreign pension funds holding stakes in German companies.

EUROPE/ITALY - The European Commission has issued a new request for Italy to move swiftly to equalise the retirement age for men and women.

EUROPE/FRANCE - The European Commission has told France to change tax rules that penalise foreign pension and investment funds.

EUROPE/GERMANY - The European Commission asked Germany to amend its legislation on taxation of dividends paid to German pension funds, arguing the higher tax paid by foreign investors is discriminatory against non-German pension funds.

UK - The High Court has ruled it is legal for employers to force workers to retire at the age of 65.