Executive Vice-President Mînzatu, in a 20 July 2026 answer to a parliamentary question, confirmed that the EU Working Time Directive applies to military personnel in principle but stressed that remuneration and special compensation for extra work fall outside EU law, leaving the issue to national discretion. The answer, responding to MEP Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR), clarifies that while Directive 2003/88/EC sets minimum rest periods and applies to all sectors, the Court of Justice has allowed exceptions for specific military activities such as active deployment or training. Mînzatu noted that Greece explicitly applies the directive to its armed forces and that the Commission monitors compliance, but she rejected the premise that EU law requires identical benefits across public sector workers.
The answer contains no concrete proposals or new measures, instead reaffirming existing legal frameworks and the limits of EU competence on pay. Institutional follow-up is unlikely, as the Commission considers the matter a national responsibility under Article 153(5) TFEU.