Jose Manuel Barroso in 2014, when he was European Commission president | Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images | Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images José Manuel Barroso ‘receiving early EU pensions’ Commission confirms that Barroso had asked for payments to start.

Former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso is already receiving early pension from the EU, Danish newspaper Politiken reported on Wednesday.

Barroso is entitled to monthly retirement payout of €7,000. He would normally start receiving that amount after retiring and leaving the job market.

But the Commission confirmed that its former president had asked for the payment, after he reached the required age of 60 in March. They did not say when he started receiving payments.

The revelation comes as Barroso embroiled in a controversy after he's taken a job with Goldman Sachs.

His new gig with the U.S. investment bank has caused outcry, and senior figures have urged the Commission to probe the appointment and consider limiting Barroso's EU pension.

Earlier this month, Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker asked an ethics committee to look into Barroso's new job.

Barroso, who is also a former Portuguese Prime Minister, said the EU investigation was “discriminatory” and “inconsistent."

The EU Treaty stipulates an 18-month cooling off period. Barroso joined Goldman Sachs 20 months after he left the EU’s executive body.