Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu, in a written answer on 29 June 2026, stated that the practice of forcing a doctor to perform five consecutive 24-hour on-call shifts in Greece's National Health Service likely violates the EU Working Time Directive. The answer, responding to a question by Left MEP Konstantinos Arvanitis, signals that the Commission may investigate Greece's compliance if evidence of a systemic breach emerges, putting pressure on Athens to enforce rest rules for healthcare workers.
The question, submitted on 30 April 2026, cited a case of a paediatrician who collapsed after five straight 24-hour shifts, highlighting chronic understaffing and risks to staff and patient safety. Mînzatu's answer reaffirms that under Directive 2003/88/EC, workers are entitled to 11 consecutive hours of daily rest per 24-hour period, and on-call time at the workplace counts as working time. Derogations for hospitals require equivalent compensatory rest immediately following the extended shift, as clarified by the Court of Justice in the Jaeger case (C-151/02).
While the Commission acknowledges that national authorities are primarily responsible for enforcing EU law, Mînzatu warned that the Commission, as guardian of the Treaties, may take action under Article 258 TFEU if breaches are evidenced. The answer does not announce a formal investigation but opens the door for one, particularly if further complaints or data confirm a pattern of non-compliance in Greek public hospitals. The response is a concrete policy signal: the Commission expects Greece to align its practices with EU law, potentially leading to infringement proceedings if corrective measures are not taken.