Strasbourg, 11/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Parliament adopted at second reading the report by the Italian MEP Stefano Zappalà (EPP/ED) on the proposed recognition of vocational qualifications. The agreement on levels of training, which was carved out at the informal trialogues which preceded the vote at the plenary session, is designed to avoid having to convene the conciliation committee, thus avoiding a three-year legislative procedure. The Luxembourg Presidency made the adoption of this directive one of its priorities for the internal market.
The two co-legislating institutions finally found a solution on levels of vocational qualifications (see EUROPE 8926). In order to have access to a profession which is regulated in another Member State, a professional must be able to offer evidence of a qualification level which is at least equivalent to the level immediately below that required in the host Member State. The Parliament would like to establish five levels, whilst the Council feels that four will do. In the report which was finally adopted, the MEPs propose reclassifying the qualifications into five levels but without allocating a number or letter. The Council would be prepared to accept this kind of formulation, as it does not suggest any kind of hierarchy between the levels.
Against the EP's wishes, professional associations and bodies will not be involved in the single committee for the recognition of vocational qualifications, which the directive creates. They will be consulted by the Commission, which will report back to the Member States, but this consultation will not take place automatically. In order to facilitate the freedom of movement and the mobility of professionals, the MEPs won out over the idea of an individual professional card containing information on the professional career of a worker. Lastly, they maintain the principle of the automatic recognition of medical or dental specialisations common to at least two Member States.
On Tuesday, during the debate in plenary, most MEPs welcomed the compromise reached with the Council and hoped that this would pave the way for current discussions on the proposed directive on services in the internal market. For these two directives, the Commission's initial draft was based on the principle of the country of origin. For the directive on the recognition of vocational qualifications, the solution retained was that of mutual recognition and the principle of host country checks.
Charlie McCreevy, the Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, welcomed the EP's vote. The Commission takes the view that the final result creates a balance between the free movement of qualified professionals and consumer protection.