EUROJUST: CALL FOR CANDIDATES BREACHES PRINCIPLE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION.

Eurojust's job advert required all candidates' letters of motivation and curricula vitae to be drawn up in English. Spain subsequently brought an action before the Court of Justice arguing that the calls for applications were contrary to the Community language regime, which requires the use of and respect for all the official languages of the European Communities.

--

Eurojust is the European body charged with enhancing legal co-operation between the Member States through the adoption at the European level of structural measures designed to encourage and improve co-ordination of investigations and prosecutions in the various Member States consistent with civil liberties and fundamental rights. Established in 2002, the legal co-operation unit comprises prosecutors, magistrates and police officers from the European Union Member States.

--

The Advocate-General's Opinion concerns two points: conditions of engagement on the one hand, and selection procedures on the other. On the first count, the Advocate-General considers that a measure laying down language requirements that go beyond those imposed by the Conditions of Employment should not contravene the principle of non-discrimination. Accordingly, language requirements imposed by reason of the nature of the post must be strictly linked with the posts to be filled and must not result in any adverse impact on the...