Overview
- Denmark, backed by Sweden, sued in 2023 to overturn the 2022 measure adopted by 24 of 27 EU countries, arguing the treaties bar EU rules on pay.
- The Advocate General advised in January that the directive be annulled for intruding on remuneration, a nonbinding opinion the court may reject.
- The directive sets reference values for minimum pay at 60% of the median or 50% of the average wage and pursues 80% collective bargaining coverage with action plans where that share is lower.
- Germany has not yet filed its required plan to boost bargaining coverage and says it will do so by December 31, while its Minimum Wage Commission cited the EU framework in raising the floor to €13.90 in 2026 and €14.60 in 2027.
- Experts say striking down the law would be a setback for EU social policy and could recalibrate Berlin’s debate on a federal fair‑pay law, whereas upholding it may require technical tweaks to Germany’s minimum wage statute without necessarily changing the rate.