7.  The applicants are all pensioners who retired on various dates between 1979 and 2002. Whenever the nominal monthly amount of their pensions exceeded the maximum amount of pension specified until the end of 1999 in section 47c of the Pensions Act 1957 (see paragraph 27 below) and since the beginning of 2000 in paragraph 6 of the provisional and concluding provisions of the Social Security Code 1999 (see paragraphs 31‑33 below), their pensions were capped. 8.  In practice, that worked as follows. In individual decisions relating to each of the applicants, the National Social Security Institute (“the NSSI”) calculated their monthly pensions under the general rules laid down first in the Act and then in the Code, and then capped the pensions by reference to the above‑mentioned provisions. Whenever the pensions were updated or recalculated, the same process was repeated. 9.  The following applicants are retired pilots from the Air Force. During their employment they received higher salaries than the average for the country. 10.  Mr Valkov, who was born in 1928, started receiving a retirement pension in April 1979. In that year, the competent pension authority set his monthly pension at 330.20 old Bulgarian levs (BGL). Mr Valkov did not provide information about the actual amount of his monthly pension between June 1992 and the end of 1999; it appears that its nominal amount at the end of 1999 was 327.40 new Bulgarian levs (BGN)[1] (the equivalent of 167.40 euros (EUR)[2]), and that it was therefore affected by the cap under section 47c of the Pensions Act 1957 (see paragraphs 27 and 28 below). When the Social Security Code 1999 came into force on 1 January 2000, Mr Valkov’s pension was recalculated in accordance with the new rules. With effect from 27 April 2004, he was granted an additional invalidity pension, amounting to BGN 13.75 (EUR 7.03). 11.  In summary, Mr Valkov’s monthly pension after 1 January 2000 was as follows:
Order of theNSSI dated
For the period after
Pension(s) under the general rules
Capped amount of pension
3 July 2000, rect’d 12 January 2001
1 January 2000
BGN 622.97
(EUR 318.52)
BGN 160
(EUR 81.81)
5 June 2001
1 June 2001
BGN 685.27
(EUR 350.37)
BGN 176
(EUR 89.99)
3 June 2002
1 June 2002
BGN 726.39
(EUR 371.40)
BGN 233.20
(EUR 119.23)
3 June 2003
1 June 2003
BGN 771.43
(EUR 394.43)
BGN 250
(EUR 127.82)
Amendment of paragraph 6 of 1 January 2004
1 January 2004
BGN 771.43
(EUR 394.43)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
19 May 2004
27 April 2004
BGN 785.18
(EUR 401.46)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
July 2004
1 June 2004
BGN 832.30
(EUR 425.55)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
19 May 2005
1 June 2005
BGN 891.46
(EUR 455.80)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
3 February 2006
1 January 2006
BGN 927.29
(EUR 474.12)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
2 July 2007
1 July 2007
BGN 1,020.02
(EUR 521.53)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 July 2008
1 July 2008
BGN 1,238.15
(EUR 633.06)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 April 2009
1 April 2009
BGN 1,541
(EUR 787.90)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90) 12.  Mr Galabov, who was born in 1954, started receiving a retirement pension in 1999. It was as follows:
Order of theNSSI dated
For theperiod after
Pension(s) under the general rules
Capped amount of pension
7 July 1999
1 December 1998
BGL 356,160 (EUR 182.10)
BGL 103,950
(EUR 53.15)
7 July 1999
1 July 1999
BGL 400,170
(EUR 204.60)
BGL 111,000
(EUR 56.75)
3 July 2000, rect’d 22 May 2002
1 January 2000
BGN 616.86
(EUR 315.40)
BGN 160
(EUR 81.81)
22 May 2002
1 June 2001
BGN 678.55
(EUR 346.94)
BGN 176
(EUR 89.99)
2 July 2001, rect’d 22 May 2002
1 July 2001
BGN 680.72
(EUR 348.05)
BGN 176
(EUR 89.99)
22 May 2002
1 January 2002
BGN 680.72
(EUR 348.05)
BGN 220
(EUR 112.48)
22 May 2002
1 June 2002
BGN 721.56
(EUR 368.93)
BGN 233.20
(EUR 119.23)
3 June 2002
1 June 2002
BGN 779.07
(EUR 368.93)
BGN 186.56
(EUR 95.39)
3 June 2003
1 June 2003
BGN 766.30
(EUR 391.80)
BGN 250
(EUR 127.82)
Amendment of paragraph 6 of 1 January 2004
1 January 2004
BGN 766.30
(EUR 391.80)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2004
1 June 2004
BGN 812.28
(EUR 415.31)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2005
1 June 2005
BGN 869.14
(EUR 444.38)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 March 2006
1 January 2006
BGN 903.91
(EUR 462.16)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
2 July 2007
1 July 2007
BGN 994.30
(EUR 508.38)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 October 2007
1 October 2007
BGN 1,093.73
(EUR 559.22)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 July 2008
1 July 2008
BGN 1,206.93
(EUR 617.09)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 October 2008
1 October 2008
BGN 1,368.52
(EUR 699.71)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
5 December 2008
27 November 2008
BGN 1,499.28
(EUR 766.57)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 April 2009
1 April 2009
BGN 1,649.39
(EUR 843.32)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90) 13.  Mr Sodev, who was born in 1949, started receiving a retirement pension in 2001. It was as follows:
Order of theNSSI dated
For theperiod after
Pension(s) under the general rules
Capped amount of pension
13 August 2001
1 June 2001
BGN 915.61
(EUR 468.14)
BGN 176
(EUR 89.99)
3 June 2002
1 June 2002
BGN 970.55
(EUR 496.23)
BGN 233.20
(EUR 119.23)
12 February 2003
15 January 2003
BGN 999.56
(EUR 511.07)
BGN 233.20
(EUR 119.23)
3 June 2003
1 June 2003
BGN 1,061.53
(EUR 542.75)
BGN 250
(EUR 127.82)
Amendment of paragraph 6 of 1 January 2004
1 January 2004
BGN 1,061.53
(EUR 542.75)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2004
1 June 2004
BGN 1,125.22
(EUR 575.32)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2005
1 June 2005
BGN 1,203.99
(EUR 615.59)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 March 2006
1 January 2006
BGN 1,252.15
(EUR 640.21)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
29 March 2006
14 March 2006
BGN 1,351.70
(EUR 691.11)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
7 March 2007
19 February 2007
BGN 1,366.22
(EUR 698.58)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
2 July 2007
1 July 2007
BGN 1,502.84
(EUR 768.39)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 October 2007
1 October 2007
BGN 1,653.12
(EUR 845.23)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
19 March 2008
22 February 2008
BGN 1,670.72
(EUR 854.23)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 July 2008
1 July 2008
BGN 1,843.64
(EUR 942.64)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
26 March 2009
20 February 2009
BGN 2,049.34
(EUR 1,047.81)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90)
1 July 2009
1 July 2009
BGN 2,233.78
(EUR 1,142.11)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90) 14.  Mr Stoyanov, who was born in 1950, started receiving a retirement pension in 2002. It was as follows:
Order of theNSSI dated
For the period after
Pension(s) under the general rules
Capped amount of pension
12 September 2002
14 June 2002
BGN 871.32
(EUR 445.50)
BGN 233.20
(EUR 119.13)
3 June 2003
1 June 2003
BGN 925.34
(EUR 473.12)
BGN 250
(EUR 127.82)
Amendment of paragraph 6 of 1 January 2004 
1 January 2004
BGN 925.34
(EUR 473.12)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2004
1 June 2004
BGN 980.86
(EUR 501.51)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
n/a
1 June 2005
BGN 1,049.52
(EUR 536.61)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
n/a
1 January 2006
BGN 1,091.50
(EUR 558.08)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
n/a
1 January 2007
BGN 1,091.50
(EUR 558.08)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 July 2007
BGN 1,200.65
(EUR 613.88)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 October 2007
BGN 1,320.72
(EUR 675.27)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 July 2008
BGN 1,457.41
(EUR 745.16)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 April 2009
BGN 1,603.25
(EUR 819.73)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90)
n/a
1 July 2009
BGN 1,747.54
(EUR 893.50)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90) 15.  Mr Avreiski, who was born in 1950, started receiving a retirement pension in 2002. It was as follows:
Order of theNSSI dated
For theperiod after
Pension(s) under the general rules
Capped amount of pension
3 September 2002
15 June 2002
BGN 699.69
(EUR 357.75)
BGN 233.20
(EUR 119.23)
3 June 2003
1 June 2003
BGN 743.07
(EUR 379.93)
BGN 250
(EUR 127.82)
Amendment of paragraph 6 of 1 January 2004
1 January 2004
BGN 743.07
(EUR 379.93)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2004
1 June 2004
BGN 787.65
(EUR 402.72)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
n/a
1 June 2005
BGN 842.79
(EUR 430.91)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
n/a
1 January 2006
BGN 876.50
(EUR 448.15)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
n/a
1 July 2007
BGN 964.15
(EUR 492.96)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 October 2007
BGN 1,060.57
(EUR 542.26)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 July 2008
BGN 1,170.34
(EUR 598.39)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 October 2008
BGN 1,170.34
(EUR 598.39)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 April 2009
BGN 1,287.45
(EUR 658.26)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90)
n/a
1 July 2009
BGN 1,403.32
(EUR 717.51)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90) 16.  The following applicants were sappers from the Border Police Service. They also received higher salaries than the average for the country. 17.  Mr Gonevski, who was born in 1944, started receiving a retirement pension in 2001. It was as follows:
Order of theNSSI dated
For theperiod after
Pension(s) under the general rules
Capped amount of pension
10 April 2002
27 November 2001
BGN 949.96
(EUR 485.71)
BGN 176
(EUR 89.99)
3 June 2002
1 June 2002
BGN 1,006.96
(EUR 514.85)
BGN 200
(EUR 102.26)
3 June 2003
1 June 2003
BGN 1,069.39
(EUR 546.77)
BGN 200
(EUR 102.26)
Amendment of paragraph 6 of 1 January 2004
1 January 2004
BGN 1,069.39
(EUR 546.77)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2004
1 June 2004
BGN 1,133.55
(EUR 579.57)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2005
1 June 2005
BGN 1,212.90
(EUR 620.15)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 March 2006
1 January 2006
BGN 1,261.42
(EUR 644.95)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
2 July 2007
1 July 2007
BGN 1,387.56
(EUR 709.45)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 October 2007
1 October 2007
BGN 1,526.32
(EUR 780.40)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 July 2008
1 July 2008
BGN 1,684.29
(EUR 861.16)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
25 July 2008
17 July 2008
BGN 2,068.32
(EUR 1,057.52)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
27 February 2009
24 February 2009
BGN 2,100.36
(EUR 1,073.90)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 April 2009
1 April 2009
BGN 2,310.48
(EUR 1,181.33)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90)
1 July 2009
1 July 2009
BGN 2,518.42
(EUR 1,287.65)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90)
22 January 2010
20 January 2010
BGN 2,556.83
(EUR 1,307.29)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90) 18.  Mr Slavkov, who was born in 1950, started receiving a retirement pension in 2000. It was as follows:
Order of theNSSI dated
For theperiod after
Pension(s) under the general rules
Capped amount of pension
11 August 2000
1 February 2000
BGN 772.74
(EUR 395.10)
BGN 160
(EUR 81.81)
5 June 2001
1 June 2001
BGN 850.01
(EUR 434.60)
BGN 176
(EUR 89.99)
3 June 2002
1 June 2002
BGN 901.01
(EUR 460.68)
BGN 186.56
(EUR 95.39)
3 June 2003
1 June 2003
BGN 956.87
(EUR 489.24)
BGN 200
(EUR 102.26)
Amendment of paragraph 6 of 1 January 2004
1 January 2004
BGN 956.87
(EUR 488.80)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2004
1 June 2004
BGN 1,013.74
(EUR 518.32)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2005
1 June 2005
BGN 1,084.70
(EUR 554.60)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 March 2006
1 January 2006
BGN 1,128.09
(EUR 576.78)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
2 July 2007
1 July 2007
BGN 1,240.90
(EUR 634.46)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 October 2007
1 October 2007
BGN 1,364.99
(EUR 697.91)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 July 2008
1 July 2008
BGN 1,506.27
(EUR 770.14)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 October 2008
1 October 2008
BGN 1,707.96
(EUR 873.27)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 April 2009
1 April 2009
BGN 1,878.84
(EUR 960.64)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90)
1 July 2009
1 July 2009
BGN 2,047.94
(EUR 1,047.10)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90) 19.  Mr Baev, who was born in 1954, started receiving a retirement pension in 2000. It was as follows:
Order of theNSSI dated
For theperiod after
Pension(s) under the general rules
Capped amount of pension
11 August 2000
1 March 2000
BGN 560.92
(EUR 286.79)
BGN 160
(EUR 81.81)
5 June 2001
1 June 2001
BGN 617.01
(EUR 315.47)
BGN 176
(EUR 89.99)
3 June 2002
1 June 2002
BGN 654.03
(EUR 334.40)
BGN 186.56
(EUR 95.39)
3 June 2003
1 June 2003
BGN 694.58
(EUR 355.13)
BGN 200
(EUR 102.26)
Amendment of paragraph 6 of 1 January 2004
1 January 2004
BGN 694.58
(EUR 355.13)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2004
1 June 2004
BGN 736.25
(EUR 376.44)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 June 2005
1 June 2005
BGN 787.79
(EUR 402.79)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
1 March 2006
1 January 2006
BGN 819.30
(EUR 418.90)
BGN 455
(EUR 232.64)
2 July 2007
1 July 2007
BGN 901.23
(EUR 460.79)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 October 2007
1 October 2007
BGN 991.35
(EUR 506.87)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 July 2008
1 July 2008
BGN 1,093.95
(EUR 559.33)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 October 2008
1 October 2008
BGN 1,240.43
(EUR 634.22)
BGN 490
(EUR 250.53)
1 April 2009
1 April 2009
BGN 1,364.26
(EUR 697.53)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90)
1 July 2009
1 July 2009
BGN 1,487.04
(EUR 760.31)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90) 20.  Mr Atanasov, who was born in 1935, did not specify what his employment had been; he merely stated that it had entailed “hard physical labour”. He started receiving a retirement pension in 1995. He did not provide information about the actual amount of his monthly pension between that time and the end of 1999; it appears that its nominal amount at the end of 1999 was BGN 285.71 (EUR 146.08), and that it was therefore affected by the cap under section 47c of the Pensions Act 1957 (see paragraphs 27 and 28 below). When the Social Security Code 1999 came into force on 1 January 2000, Mr Atanasov’s pension was recalculated in accordance with the new rules. 21.  In summary, Mr Atanasov’s pension after 1 January 2000 was as follows:
Order of theNSSI dated
For theperiod after
Pension(s) under the general rules
Capped amount of pension
n/a
1 January 2000
BGN 310.79
(EUR 158.91)
BGN 160
(EUR 81.81)
n/a
1 June 2001
BGN 341.87
(EUR 174.80)
BGN 176
(EUR 89.99)
n/a
1 June 2002
BGN 362.38
(EUR 185.28)
BGN 186.56
(EUR 95.39)
n/a
1 June 2003
BGN 384.85
(EUR 196.77)
BGN 200
(EUR 102.26)
n/a
1 June 2004
BGN 407.94
(EUR 208.58)
n/a
n/a
1 June 2005
BGN 436.50
(EUR 223.18)
BGN 420
(EUR 214.74)
n/a
1 January 2006
BGN 453.96
(EUR 232.11)
n/a
n/a
1 July 2007
BGN 499.36
(EUR 255.32)
BGN 490.00
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 October 2007
BGN 549.30
(EUR 280.85)
BGN 490.00
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 July 2008
BGN 606.15
(EUR 309.92)
BGN 490.00
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 October 2008
BGN 687.30
(EUR 351.41)
BGN 490.00
(EUR 250.53)
n/a
1 April 2009
BGN 755.89
(EUR 386.48)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90)
n/a
1 July 2009
BGN 832.92
(EUR 425.87)
BGN 700
(EUR 357.90)