żeby nie było, że po polsku ...
[Place, date]
To:
European Commission
Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
1049 Brussels
Belgium
Subject: Discrimination against officers of the Customs and Tax Service in Poland regarding the right to a housing allowance
Dear Sir or Madam,
I kindly request your intervention concerning the violation of the principle of equal treatment of officers of the Customs and Tax Service in the Republic of Poland, resulting from the refusal to grant them the right to a housing allowance, which is granted to officers of other uniformed services.
The Customs and Tax Service plays a key role in the state security system and in protecting the financial interests of both Poland and the European Union. Officers of this service are responsible, among others, for controlling the trade of goods at the EU external borders, combating smuggling, protecting the internal market from illegal goods, and collecting customs and tax revenues, which constitute a significant portion of the Union’s budget income.
Despite the comparable nature of tasks, scope of responsibilities, and service requirements, officers of the Customs and Tax Service are systematically deprived of social benefits granted to other uniformed services, including the right to a housing allowance. This situation not only violates the principle of equal treatment in employment (Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union), but also weakens the operational capability of this service by reducing its attractiveness as an employer, complicating recruitment, and increasing staff turnover.
Differentiating entitlements among formations with similar legal status and scope of duties is not justified by national law provisions nor by principles applicable in EU Member States. It constitutes a form of indirect discrimination, which has a real impact on the material situation of officers as well as on the level of security at the EU’s external borders.
In light of the above, I ask the European Commission to:
- Examine the compliance of regulations governing the entitlements of Customs and Tax Service officers with EU law, in particular with the principle of equal treatment and the prohibition of discrimination.
- Take actions aimed at ensuring equal working conditions and social benefits for officers of this service compared to other uniformed services in Poland.
- Include in the assessment the impact of such inequality on the protection of the financial interests of the Union and the security of its external borders.
Counting on your understanding of the seriousness of this matter and the necessity to ensure equal treatment of officers responsible for implementing the common goals of the EU, I remain respectfully yours.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Position / title]
[Correspondence address]