23In this respect, it must be borne in mind that the object of Article 3(1) of Regulation No 1408/71 is to ensure, in accordance with Article 48 of the Treaty, equal treatment in matters of social security, without distinction based on nationality, for the persons to whom that regulation applies by abolishing all discrimination in that regard deriving from the national legislation of the Member States (Case C-131/96Mora Romero v Landesversicherungsanstalt Rheinprovinz [1997] ECR I-3659, paragraph 29).