Language discrimination - native speakers

22.1.2004

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0241/04
by Johanna Boogerd-Quaak (ELDR)
to the Commission

In its answer to Written Question E-2764/02[1], the Commission acknowledges that a 'native speaker' condition in recruitment announcements 'is not acceptable under Community rules on free movement of workers, as it is unlawfully discriminatory. Therefore the Commission considers that the use of this term in job advertisements is prohibited by Community law.'

 

Over the last year, Commission-funded European technical assistance offices, non-governmental organisations and private firms have advertised more than 700 vacancies at European level which have been set aside exclusively for 'native English speakers' or 'English mother tongue' applicants. For those vacancies, no-one with 'excellent' or 'very good' knowledge of English was looked for; rather, and expressly, only native English-speakers. However, such advertisements are still frequently published. These days, organisations are replacing terms such as 'English mother tongue' by 'English mother tongue or equivalent' and 'English native speaker level' and are subsequently interviewing only English native-speakers.

 

1. Does the Commission intend to combat this? If so, how? If not, why not?

 

2. Does the Commission also intend to work in future with organisations which discriminate against non-native English-speakers?

 

• [1]  OJ C 92 E, 17.4.2003, p. 207.