European Parliament 3 October 2002, WRITTEN QUESTION E-2779/02 by Luigi Cocilovo (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Application of Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and No 574/72 in the context of the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation.

However, a requirement for ‘perfect or a very good knowledge of a particular language’ cannot be seen, as such, as illegitimate under Community law provided that a very high level of knowledge of a particular language is necessary for the post concerned; the employer has to justify the need for this requirement.