WRITTEN QUESTION E-0538/04 by Kathalijne Buitenweg (Verts/ALE) to the Commission. Language discrimination in notices of vacancy — English mother tongue or native speaker.
Date: 2004-02-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU office or agency, European Commission, administration of the Institutions, application of EU law, job description, job vacancy, linguistic discrimination, non-governmental organisation, powers of the institutions (EU)

3.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 84 E/411

step in the right direction. What is more, it is encouraging to note that the Commission has emphasised
that, where appropriate,
it will use the powers conferred on it under Community law to prevent the
inclusion of the ‘native-speaker’ condition in notices of vacancy.

However, the parliamentary questions on this issue that have been tabled repeatedly since 2001 clearly
demonstrate that the Commission has been making inadequate use of its powers under Community law in
order to clamp down definitively on these practices. Accordingly, there is a sharply increasing feeling of
resentment at the Commission’s passive attitude to the problem inside the European Parliament and across
the entire political spectrum.

if

I should be grateful
the Commission would indicate why, despite the proven infringements of
Community law, it has not, to date, used its powers under Community law? On the basis of the provisions
of the European Treaty, will the Commission henceforth take firm action to combat any form of language
discrimination in notices of vacancy published by organisations which it (co)funds?

(2004/C 84 E/0478)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0538/04

by Kathalijne Buitenweg (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(24 February 2004)

Subject: Language discrimination in notices of vacancy (cid:1) ‘English mother tongue’ or ‘native speaker’

In reply to question E-2226/03 (1), the Commission states that all Commission services have been made
aware of possible discriminatory job advertisements and asked to take the necessary steps as regards their
contractors. The Commission also states in its reply that it tries to avoid cooperation with organisations
which publish job advertisements with a ‘native speaker’ criterion. The Commission goes on to stress that
it
the use of a ‘native speaker’ criterion in job
advertisements.

intends to use its legal powers to fight against

The European Esperanto Union states that, despite previous warnings from the Commission, discrimina-
tory notices of vacancy are still being published which require candidates to meet such criteria as ‘English
mother tongue’ or ‘native English speakers’. Copies of the discriminatory notices of vacancy can be found
at www.lingvo.org/eo/2/15.

Is the Commission aware of the advertising of these vacancies? If so, has the Commission used its

1.
legal powers to combat this discriminatory requirement? If so, how? If not, why not?

2. What steps will
requirements as ‘English mother tongue’ or ‘native speaker’ in future?

the Commission take to prevent vacancies from being advertised with such

(1) OJ C 33 E, 6.2.2004, p. 236.

(2004/C 84 E/0479)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0710/04

by Concepció Ferrer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(10 March 2004)

Subject: EU notices of vacancy for English mother-tongue candidates

A number of technical agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private companies, all of
them partially or totally financed by the Commission, have published notices of more than 700 vacant
posts in Europe, reserved exclusively for candidates who are ‘English mother-tongue’ or ‘native English
speakers’ (www.lingvo.org/eo/2/15).

The notices do not state that people with ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ command of English are being sought, but
explicitly and exclusively native English speakers.

Can the Commission confirm the existence of such practices and, if so, does it not consider that they
constitute an example of discrimination contrary to the provisions of the Treaties?