Reverse discrimination of EU citizens: towards a plural understanding of the relationship between the European Union and the national legal orders

Reverse discrimination occurs when a Union citizen in a purely internal situation is treated less favourably compared with a Union citizen who is in a cross-border situation. According to settled case law of the European Court of Justice, reverse discrimination is not a difference in treatment that is prohibited by European Union law and thus it is left to the Member States to decide individually whether or not reverse discrimination is acceptable.

PART I analyses the issue of reverse discrimination from a Union perspective. In particular, it is examined whether reverse discrimination continues to fall within the scope of application of Member State law or whether it falls within the ambit of Union law. Moreover, the interpretation of the purely internal situation doctrine is discussed on the basis of the ECJ's case law.

PART II discusses reverse discrimination from the perspective of five Member States. The Member States under analysis are Belgium, France, Italy, Germany and Austria. The focus lies on the ground(s) on which the national authorities make their assessment of reverse discrimination in order to decide whether or not to allow a stricter treatment of purely internal situations.

PART III analyses specific situations of reverse discrimination in a federally structured Member State. These complex cases are discussed from the perspective of both Union law and Belgian and German law.