Article 20 - Equality before the law
Article 21 - Non-discrimination
Key facts of the case:
Mr A. was deprived of French citizenship by a decree of 11 May 2021, on the basis of Articles 25 and 25-1 of the Civil Code, on the grounds that he was convicted by a judgment of the Paris Tribunal on 23 June 2017, of having participated in an association of criminals with a view to preparing an act of terrorism (Article 421-2-1 of the French Criminal Code).
It was established that Mr A. joined an Al-Qaeda affiliated jihadist group in Syria and adopted its jihadist ideology, underwent weapons training, possessed an automatic weapon and was in contact with jihadist fighters in the area.
Key legal question raised by the Court:
Is the deprivation of citizenship a disproportionate sanction for participation in a criminal conspiracy for the preparation of an act of terrorism, in the light of European Union law?
Outcome of the case:
Mr A's motion was denied. The Council of State (Conseil d'Etat) considered that, in view of the nature and seriousness of the acts committed by the plaintiff which led to his criminal conviction, the sanction of deprivation of French citizenship was not, under the circumstances of the case, disproportionate in the light of European Union law.
8. Fourth, under Article 20 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union: "All persons are equal before the law". According to Article 21 of the same charter: "Within the scope of application of the texts and notwithstanding their specific provisions, any discrimination on the basis of nationality is prohibited". 9. As the Court of Justice of the European Union noted in its judgment of 2 March 2010, Rottman, C-135/08, the definition of the conditions for obtaining and losing citizenship is the responsibility of each of the Union's Member States. However, insofar as the loss of citizenship of a Member State results in the loss of the status of citizen of the Union, the loss of citizenship of a Member State must, in order to comply with Union law, be based on reasons of general interest and be proportionate to the seriousness of the acts on which it is based, to the period of time that has elapsed since the obtaining of citizenship and to the ability of the individual involved to recover another citizenship. Articles 20 and 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights do not preclude the loss of citizenship from depending on the method of, or conditions for, obtaining citizenship.
8. En quatrième lieu, aux termes de l'article 20 de la charte des droits fondamentaux de l'Union européenne : " Toutes les personnes sont égales en droit ". Aux termes de l'article 21 de la même charte : " Dans le domaine d'application des textes et sans préjudice de leurs dispositions particulières, toute discrimination exercée en fonction de la nationalité est interdite ". 9. Ainsi que l'a relevé la Cour de justice de l'Union européenne dans son arrêt du 2 mars 2010, Rottman, C-135/08, la définition des conditions d'acquisition et de perte de la nationalité relève de la compétence de chaque État membre de l'Union. Toutefois, dans la mesure où la perte de la nationalité d'un Etat membre a pour conséquence la perte du statut de citoyen de l'Union, la perte de la nationalité d'un Etat membre doit, pour être conforme au droit de l'Union, répondre à des motifs d'intérêt général et être proportionnée à la gravité des faits qui la fondent, au délai écoulé depuis l'acquisition de la nationalité et à la possibilité pour l'intéressé de recouvrer une autre nationalité. Les articles 20 et 21 de la charte des droits fondamentaux ne font pas obstacle à ce que la perte de nationalité puisse dépendre du mode ou des conditions d'acquisition de la nationalité.
