Brussels, 25/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Danish Presidency is proposing that the Member States should exchange information available to them on persons disqualified from carrying out a profession further to a criminal offence. "Disqualification is an important penal sanction", explains Denmark in support of its proposal, stressing that, through lack of information, "it is in principle possible for a person who has been disqualified from working with children in one Member State because of sexual offences to get a job in a kindergarten in another Member State". Denmark therefore proposes that each Member State should name a national point of contact responsible for collecting, requesting and providing information in this respect. This point of contact should automatically inform the other Member States of disqualification affecting their own nationals, the persons residing on their territory or those who practise a commercial activity on their territory. Denmark specifies in its proposal that information will be provided according to the law of the country and according to international agreements. It is not a matter for the Presidency to propose new rules, but to ensure that information moves freely. Then, each Member State may respond according to national legislation. Denmark sees this proposal of decision as a first stage towards a long-term decision of mutual recognition of decisions to ban the practice of a commercial activity as part of a judgement or as a corollary of a criminal conviction. The proposal is part of the twelve initiatives proposed by Denmark in the field of justice (EUROPE of 11 July, p.12).