20/01/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 19 January, the European Commission celebrated the first anniversary of the launch of the European Professional Card (EPC) (see EUROPE 11470). The Commission reveals that, in this first year, some 2,100 EPC applications were submitted and more than 700 issued. “These figures show both the need and the effectiveness of this innovative tool”, says the Commission. The EPC aims to ease the free movement of mobile professionals, such as nurses, pharmacists, mountain guides and estate agents. The Commission recently introduced a European services card, modelled along the same lines as the EPC, creating much controversy in the process (see EUROPE 11705 and 11701). (PH)