A Milan Court ruled on February 17 that foreign nationals are eligible to participate in the Interior Ministry's civil service competition announced on May 27, 2024.
In a statement released on February 18, the Association for Legal Studies on Immigration (ASGI) announced the ruling, adding that "the Ministry must now suspend the ongoing selection process and reopen applications to allow foreign nationals to participate."
Competition announced last year for 1,248 positions
The case concerns a national competition launched on May 27, 2024, to recruit 1,248 officials for the Interior Ministry. The original call restricted applications to Italian citizens, a limitation challenged in court by ASGI and the nonprofit legal association 'Avvocati per Niente' ('Lawyers for nothing'), supported by 'Italiani Senza Cittadinanza' ('Italians without a citizenship') and represented by attorneys Alberto Guariso and Livio Neri.
The Milan Labor Court, presided over by Judge Camilla Stefanizzi, ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. Citing multiple precedents from the European Court of Justice and Italian courts, the ruling stated that the citizenship requirement can only apply to roles involving the continuous exercise of public authority. Since the contested positions involve administrative, financial, accounting, or linguistic functions, this restriction was deemed unlawful.
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New exams required
The ruling grants eligibility to EU citizens, family members of EU citizens, foreigners with long-term residency permits, and those with international protection status. "The Ministry, which continued the competition process despite the ongoing lawsuit, must now start over, reopening applications and organizing new exams for eligible foreign applicants," ASGI reiterated on its website.
The organizations behind the lawsuit welcomed the ruling, stating that it "breaks the stigma that migrants are destined for low-paying, marginal jobs. This decision reaffirms that all individuals, regardless of nationality, can fully participate in society, contribute to public service, and advance national interests."
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