Brussels, 07/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is planning to reform the EU's system for recognition of professional qualifications in order to facilitate mobility and in this connection it plans to raise the option of a European professional card. On Friday 7 January, the Commission opened a public consultation exercise to poll opinion on updating the EU professional qualifications directive 2005/36/EC.
The directive lays down the rules for the mutual recognition of professional qualifications by the member states. Apart from a few innovations, it mainly consolidates and simplifies 15 previous directives, some dating back to the 1960's.
The consultation focuses on three key challenges:
Further simplification for the general public. Stakeholders are invited to assess a number of proposals aimed at minimising the number of problems professionals face when trying to relocate in the EU. Better planning could help address the needs of university students and young graduates who may wish to take up posts and jobs abroad in the future. Further help to relocate professionals could be provided. Finally, efforts could be made to improve the mobility of professionals between a member state not regulating a profession and a member state which does regulate this profession (e.g. tourist guides; engineers).
A European professional card. The 2005 directive provides tools, such as professional cards and sets of commonly agreed criteria of professional qualifications, to professionals and professional organisations to facilitate mobility. They have not, however, had the full effect hoped for as they have not been taken up. As a result, the consultation asks stakeholders for their opinion on a European professional card which could make it easier for professionals wanting to work abroad to demonstrate their credentials, would provide more transparency to consumers and employers and enhance confidence between the authorities concerned. On 10 January 2011, a steering group made up of 32 experts from European associations representing different professions (architects, doctors, engineers, lawyers, mountain guides, midwives, pharmacists, engineers, real estate agents, tourist sector professionals and others) and experts from 10 member states (notably from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, United Kingdom) will also start to reflect on the issue of a European professional card.
Raising awareness about EU legislation in this area. The 2005 directive consolidated several systems of automatic recognition, notably for doctors, general care nurses, dentists, midwives, veterinary surgeons, pharmacists, architects, and many activities in the craft and trade sector. The consultation asks stakeholders: 1) to consider the need to modernise the training requirements for these professions; 2) to comment on the need to strengthen cooperation between different national authorities, for example when there are irregularities. A warning mechanism could be introduced when offences like the presentation of false documentation occurs when a professional is seeking recognition of his/her diploma in another member state; and 3) to comment on the scale of problems related to the language skill requirements professionals are required to demonstrate.
The consultation results will be incorporated into an assessment report and a Green Paper expected in the autumn. The Commission will unveil a draft update of the 2005 directive next year. Stakeholders are urged to submit their comments by 15 March 2011. A public hearing is scheduled for 21 February 2011. (L.C./transl.fl)