Hearing: Joined Cases C-377/24, C-378/24 and C-479/24 Spain v Parliament | Joined Cases C-381/24, C-382/24 and C-478/24 Italy v Parliament

On Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 September 2026, the Court of Justice of the European Union will hear Joined Cases C-377/24, C-378/24 and C-479/24 Spain v Parliament, alongside Joined Cases C-381/24, C-382/24 and C-478/24 Italy v Parliament.

These cases concern a civil service entrance competition organised by the European Parliament that was reserved for Austrian nationals. The Parliament wanted to increase the number of Austrian civil servants, who are considered to be under-represented in the EU institutions. EU law allows the institutions to adopt appropriate measures where there is a significant imbalance between nationalities that is not justified by objective reasons.

Spain and Italy have challenged the Parliament’s decision before the Court of Justice. They argue that it breaches the principle of equal treatment in access to public employment in the EU and introduces discrimination on grounds of nationality that is not sufficiently justified. They also argue that the Parliament has failed to consider less restrictive measures to achieve the same objective.

This hearing will be available in the Curia Web TV section of our website after it has been completed.

In the video below, a press officer of the Court gives an overview of the facts of the cases and the legal issues involved.