Ensuring the reliability of language certificates in the European Union

Question for written answer E-004019/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Nikos Pappas (The Left)

Language certification is a key tool for mobility and access to work and education within the EU. However, there is an increasing incidence of the use of fake or questionable certificates, which do not comply with the Common European Framework of Reference for language qualifications (CEFR). This phenomenon creates conditions of unfair competition and undermines meritocracy.

In Greece and other Member States, such as Italy and Spain, cases of the use of unreliable certificates in public tenders have been recorded, while related concerns have also been expressed in Romania and Bulgaria.

According to a relevant report by the Council of Europe, the need to combat fraud in language certification is an emerging European priority.[1]

Can the Commission say:

• 1.How is the compliance of language qualifications with the CEFR ensured?
• 2.Will the Commission propose a common European mechanism for checking the authenticity of certificates?
• 3.Will the Commission consider measures to protect equal opportunities in employment and education against the use of false or unreliable language qualifications?

Submitted: 14.10.2025

• [1] https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/newsroom/-/asset_publisher/CICM5F8C1tij/content/combating-fraud-in-language-certification-a-new-council-of-europe-project