In a report by Andreas Schwab (EPP, Germany), MEPs have softened the European Commission proposal with regard to the directive on proportionality testing prior to adoption of new rules by introducing greater room for manoeuvre on regulated health professions. The internal market and consumer protection (IMCO) committee adopted the report by 33 votes to 3 on Monday 4 December.
Following the vote, Schwab emphasised “the good compromise found that will protect the health sector in the interest of EU citizens without harming the internal market at the same time”. Among the compromise amendments, MEPs specify clearly that, for healthcare services, member states must be granted “a margin of discretion that is sufficient to ensure a high level of human health protection”.
This is a potentially important amendment when it is realised that the healthcare and social service professions represent close to 40% of the 5,500 regulated professions in Europe.
MEPs introduced an obligation for member states to hold wide-ranging public consultations that include all stakeholders in order to gather the necessary evidence for reform of professional services, notably when these reforms have a significant impact.
They also introduced a requirement on member states to ensure compliance with the principle of proportionality with the specific obligations of the provisions on cross-border services contained in Directive 2005/36/EC on recognition of qualifications.
Pharmaceutical sector quite satisfied. The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU) said in a press release issued on the same day that it welcomed the agreement given the recognition in the text of the specific nature of healthcare professions. It argued that the European Commission proposal (see EUROPE 11700) could have had unwanted negative effects for doctors, dentists and pharmacists, particularly in terms of the administrative load.
No date has yet been communicated for the plenary session vote on the text. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)