Recognition of professional qualifications

In total, across the EU Member States (MS) there are about 800 categories of regulated professions. Access to these is often based on differing national laws, which can make exercising a profession in another country difficult. A 2011 Eurobarometer survey identified non-recognition of qualifications as one of the key obstacles to working abroad. Citizens expect RPQ to be easy and automatic, yet only 70% of requests meet with a quick and successful outcome. The EU problem-solving network (SOLVIT) reports RPQ problems as the third most common complaint. The Agenda for New Skills and Jobs, one of the Europe 2020 strategy’s flagship initiatives, concluded that facilitating RPQ would contribute to a better match of skills and jobs on the EU labour market. The 2010 Citizenship Report identified inability to apply electronically for RPQ, delays in processes and resistance at national level as the main problems. Furthermore, the last three Annual Growth Surveys and the Single Market Act found obstacles to RPQ to be persistent.

European rules on mutual RPQ are defined in Directive 2005/36, which introduced a scheme for temporary mobility allowing professionals to work on the basis of a declaration made in advance. The Directive also provides three systems for permanent RPQ: automatic recognition for professions with harmonised minimum training (seven professions such as architects, doctors and nurses), recognition based on professional experience (e.g. in the craft, commerce or industry sectors) and a general system for all other professions.

On 19 December 2011 the Commission proposed a Modernised Professional Qualifi­cations Directive aimed at facilitating RPQ through: the introduction of the voluntary electronic European professional card (EPC), associated to a recognition procedure carried out within the Internal Market Information System; better access to RPQ information for citizens through points of single contact; harmonising minimum training requirements for professions covered by automatic recognition; common training frameworks and tests to extend automatic recognition; a framework for partial access to regulated professions; mutual evaluation by MS of their regulated professions. Indeed, the Commission set out a framework for this review on 2 October 2013.

The European Economic and Social Committee welcomed the proposal but is concerned about possible overlaps or contradictions with existing RPQ systems. Employers call for the number of regulated professions in Europe to be reduced. Medical authorities support the new alert mechanism covering health profes­sionals prohibited from practice, but also argue that they should only be allowed to practice after explicit authorisation by the host MS. Real estate professionals call for widest possible application of the EPC.

The Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee adopted its report on the RPQ in January 2013 (rapporteur Bernadette Vergnaud, S&D, France). The agreement in trilogue was endorsed by the Committee in July. The agreed text provides for the grant of EPCs to members of professional bodies opting to use the system, and enables professionals to ask their home countries to arrange RPQ. It also allows language checks of health professionals. While the scope of the Directive was extended to unpaid traineeships, notaries appointed by official act of government are excluded.