Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001268/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Konstantinos Arvanitis (The Left)
Very recently, the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum referred to foreigners residing irregularly as ‘illegal immigrants’ in a television news programme.
Pursuant to the EU acquis, the prohibition of discrimination is expressly established in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU[1], the TFEU[2], and Directive 2000/43/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of racial or ethnic origin. It is recalled that in her order 8191/26.7.20218 to the country’s Public Prosecutors’ Offices, the then Supreme Court Public Prosecutor considered that this term, ‘in addition to being ill-conceived, can also be derogatory to the character of the individual’ and called on the recipients to ensure that in local communities that ‘the use of derogatory descriptions and words for people’s character is stopped’, arguing that ‘in this way, we will all contribute to the elimination of the phenomena of xenophobia and racism’.
Furthermore, both the CJEU and the ECtHR have for years ceased to use such expressions in their case-law, unequivocally opting to reject terms that introduce unfavourable discrimination from European legal culture.
In view of the above:
- 1.In the Commission’s opinion, is the above-mentioned statement by a senior government official in line with the letter and spirit of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU?
- 2.Does the Commission intend to delete corresponding references from EU legislation which is still in force?
Submitted: 26.3.2025
- [1] Article 21: ‘1. Any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation shall be prohibited. 2. Within the scope of application of the Treaties and without prejudice to any specific provisions of those Treaties, any discrimination on grounds of nationality shall be prohibited.’
- [2] Article 10: ‘In defining and implementing its policies and actions, the Union shall aim to combat discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.’