German MEP Christine Anderson of the Europe of Sovereign Nations group has asked the European Commission whether member states may legally deny certain family-related social benefits to economically inactive EU citizens, citing two landmark Court of Justice rulings. The question, submitted on 26 May 2026, targets the tension between EU free movement rights and national welfare systems.
Anderson's three-part written question references the Dano (C‑333/13) and Alimanovic (C‑67/14) judgments, in which the Court of Justice acknowledged that economically inactive EU citizens can be excluded from social benefits under certain conditions. She asks the Commission to confirm whether member states may differentiate between economically active and economically inactive EU citizens when granting access to family-related social benefits, what criteria are relevant for such differentiation under EU law, and to what extent protecting the financial viability of national social benefit systems is a legitimate aim.
The question signals a push to clarify the boundaries of equal treatment for EU citizens who are not working or seeking work. Anderson's framing suggests concern that current EU rules may force member states to extend benefits to economically inactive migrants, potentially straining national budgets. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it supports tighter restrictions or reaffirms the principle of non-discrimination for all EU citizens.
Stakeholders most affected include EU member state governments, which face pressure to control welfare costs while complying with EU law; economically inactive EU citizens who may lose access to family benefits; and EU institutions, which must balance free movement rights with national fiscal autonomy. The question does not propose specific numerical targets or deadlines but seeks policy orientation on a sensitive area of EU social security coordination.