Overview

• The EU Court of Justice reaffirmed that Spain's pension supplement, designed to reduce the gender pension gap, discriminates against fathers by imposing additional eligibility requirements.
• The 2021 reform under José Luis Escrivá attempted to include fathers but failed to meet EU equality standards, as mothers receive the benefit automatically.
• A Vigo pensioner has reactivated his lawsuit following the ruling, potentially paving the way for compensation of €500–€2,000 annually for fathers.
• The Spanish government must revise or possibly eliminate the supplement to comply with EU directives, leaving its future uncertain.
• The supplement, originally introduced in 2016, aimed to address the €7,000 annual gender pension gap but has faced repeated legal challenges over unequal treatment.