BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Commission called on Italy to make an immediate change to rules that allow female civil servants to retire far earlier than their male co-workers.

Italian men working in public administration can retire at 65, while women can currently retire at 60. Italy is slowly increasing the retirement age for women on an annual basis, but they won't have to retire at 65 until 2018.

The European Commission, which called for an immediate increase yesterday, can ask the EU courts to force Italy to change its rules under the threat of daily fines.

Separately, EU officials have called on Europeans to work longer to reduce the high cost of pensions to debt-laden governments.