Brussels, 09/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 9 October, MEPs adopted the revised directive on professional qualifications and consequently provide a new impetus to the mobility of doctors, architects and accountants. Bernadette Vergnaud (S&D, France) was the author of the report and explained that, “introducing a European professional card, establishing common training frameworks and recognising traineeships as part of professional's experience will greatly improve their mobility and European's security”. The report was adopted by a very solid majority (596 votes in favour, 37 against, with 31 abstentions).
The European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Michel Barnier, welcomed the adoption of the directive and said that this involved one of the priorities in the Single Market Act.
There are around 740 professions in Europe that are often regulated differently from one member state to another, which puts a brake on the mobility of workers. Modernisation of the directive does not undermine the philosophy underpinning it and is aimed at better targeting the use of available instruments for applying the directive.
The professional card therefore constitutes a step forward because it will allow workers to obtain recognition of their qualifications more swiftly and simply. It will be available in the form of an electronic certificate and will be based on the Internal Market Information System (IMI). Commissioner Barnier explained that several professions have already demonstrated their interest in using this card.
Revision of the directive updates the definition of minimum training in seven key professions (doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, veterinary surgeons and architects), which will benefit from automatic mutual recognition. There will now be a European database set up by the Commission, which will provide information from member states on the different professions and demonstrate that the rules applied to them are “proportionate and non-discriminatory”, in relation to the use of languages, for example. A common training basis for regulated professions in at least a third of the member states will be set up, which will help facilitate mutual recognition. It will also be easier to carry out training abroad.
In an effort to meet security and consumer concerns, a warning system has been introduced at a European level to highlight any health care or education sector professionals who have convictions or who have been suspended or banned from exercising their profession in a member state.
The Council still has to formally adopt this text but both the Commissioner and rapporteur hope that it will enter into force from the beginning of next year and that member states apply it as soon as possible. (MD/transl.fl)