EU launches action against Austria over child benefit move

"There are no second-class workers in the EU and no second-class children either," said EU Social Affairs Commissioner Marianne Thyssen.

The European Union is taking action against Austria for indexing child benefits to the cost of living in the country where those children reside, saying it discriminates against other EU citizens working in Austria.

EU Social Affairs Commissioner Marianne Thyssen said Austria's move is "deeply unfair" because it means many EU citizens paying social security and taxes in Austria "would receive fewer benefits only because their children are living in another member state".