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European Commission refers Greece to EU Court over fixed-term teachers' rights
🇬🇷 Greece /Crime & Justice

European Commission refers Greece to EU Court over fixed-term teachers' rights

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement In the courts
  • The European Commission is referring Greece to the European Court of Justice over its failure to fully align national law with the EU directive on fixed-term employment.
  • The Commission argues that Greek law provides less favorable employment terms for fixed-term teachers in public schools compared to permanent teachers, affecting benefits like maternity and sick leave.
  • Despite initial clarifications, the Commission found Greece's explanations insufficient and is now seeking a ruling on the violation of EU law.

The European Commission has decided to take Greece to the European Court of Justice, citing the country's non-compliance with an EU directive aimed at preventing the misuse of successive fixed-term employment contracts. The directive, Council Directive 1999/70/EC, establishes a framework for equal treatment between fixed-term and permanent workers.

According to the Commission, Greek legislation offers less favorable employment conditions for teachers on fixed-term contracts in public schools when compared to their permanent counterparts. These disparities reportedly affect crucial benefits such as maternity leave and sick leave entitlements.

The infringement procedure began in July 2024 with a letter of formal notice from the Commission to Greece. While the Greek authorities provided clarifications regarding the differential treatment, the Commission deemed these explanations inadequate. Subsequently, in May 2025, a reasoned opinion was issued, emphasizing that the concerns remained unaddressed.

As Greece has not implemented the necessary legislative changes, the Commission is now pursuing a legal ruling from the European Court of Justice to confirm the violation of EU law. The directive mandates that fixed-term employees should not be treated less favorably than permanent employees unless objectively justified, requiring member states to ensure non-discrimination through national laws, collective agreements, or workplace practices.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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