The Office of the Ombudsperson issued a recommendation suggesting that the State Scholarships Foundation of Cyprus (EFG) publishes announcements and application forms in English and Turkish, following a complaint submitted by a Turkish Cypriot.
The complaint concerned the language of scholarship announcements and applications, as well as the rejection of his application for a doctoral scholarship at the University of Cyprus for the academic year 2021/2022.
Specifically, the complainant approached the Commissioner’s Office because, as he claimed, EFG’s announcements and applications were published only in Greek, creating discrimination against non-Greek-speaking Cypriot citizens.
He also complained that although he managed to submit an application for a doctoral scholarship using online translation applications, EFG ultimately rejected his application in September 2022 because he did not present a recognised ID, had not served in the National Guard, and had completed his undergraduate studies at an institution not recognized by the Republic.
Additionally, the complainant mentioned to the Commissioner’s Office that he had submitted a Republic of Cyprus ID with his application, which EFG could have requested (as it did for other documents), he did not serve in the National Guard as he, being a Turkish Cypriot, is not obliged or able to complete military service under the law, and that he completed his undergraduate studies at a recognised university in Turkey.
Another Turkish Cypriot, a doctoral student at the University of Cyprus, also complained to the Commissioner’s Office about the language issue after discovering that EFG had published information about state scholarships for doctoral students only in Greek.
The President of EFG responded to the Commissioner’s inquiries by stating that the organisation’s board decided to continue its practice of publishing announcements and forms only in Greek, as is common in most Ministries, government departments, and the broader public sector.
After reviewing relevant legislation, the Constitution, and jurisprudence, the Commissioner’s Office concluded that EFG has no constitutional obligation to draft announcements or application forms for scholarships in Turkish.
However, it raised concerns and reservations, forwarded to EFG, about whether the issue of providing state scholarships, aimed at supporting Letters, Sciences, and Arts in the Republic, should continue to be announced only in Greek, considering not all Cypriot citizens have Greek origins, and EU citizens are also eligible to apply.
The Civil Registry and Migration Department, beyond any legal obligation, has drafted and issued application forms in Turkish for specific areas of their responsibility, and the Social Insurance Services have translated and made available online general information and application forms in English for all benefits provided to citizens, it noted.
The law governing EFG’s establishment and operation allows non-Cypriot citizens to compete for scholarships, with specific provisions for EU citizens to compete on an “equal basis” with Cypriot citizens.
Publishing announcements and applications for scholarships only in Greek undoubtedly creates difficulties for citizens from other member states/foreigners who do not know Greek, it said, as well as for Cypriot citizens who do not speak Greek, such as Turkish Cypriots, maintaining different treatment regarding access to scholarships.
In its report submitted to EFG, the Commissioner’s Office recommends ensuring that information and applications for scholarships are available in English and to reconsider publishing announcements and applications in Turkish, as an exception to the doctrine of necessity.
Finally, it suggests that EFG re-examine the complainant’s application for a doctoral scholarship at the University of Cyprus, within the relevant legal framework, general principles of administrative law, and Equal Treatment (Racial or Ethnic Origin) legislation.
