Mînzatu declines to assess dual-citizen university admission case, points to Skills Portability Initiative

Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, in a written answer on 28 July 2026, declined to assess whether a German university's admission procedure that imposes additional recognition requirements on dual EU citizens complies with EU law, citing insufficient information. The case, raised by MEP Pascal Arimont (PPE), involved a Belgian-German dual national whose Belgian school-leaving qualification was accepted for university admission in Germany only after prior recognition by the relevant Land authority, whereas a solely Belgian citizen would have faced no such burden. Mînzatu suggested the affected citizen submit a formal complaint, which the Commission would examine and, if warranted, take appropriate action. She also pointed to the forthcoming Skills Portability Initiative, announced as part of the Union of Skills in March 2025 and forming part of the Fair Mobility Package, which aims to improve transparency, recognition and transferability of skills and qualifications across Member States. However, she noted that the initiative will focus primarily on professional qualifications and cross-border labour mobility, rather than on recognition of secondary education for university entrance. The answer offers no concrete timeline or specific measures for addressing the dual-citizen recognition issue, leaving the matter to individual complaint procedures and broader future policy signals.