It is fundamental to EU law that citizens should have the
freedom to establish themselves and work anywhere in the EU. In
2005, the EU adopted an amended directive governing the recognition of
professional qualifications in the EU which aims to clarify and
consolidate the current rules in place and to facilitate free
movement of qualified professionals between Member States. The
professions affected by the directive include: architects;
dentists; doctors; midwives; lawyers; nurses; pharmacists;
veterinary surgeons.
The directive consolidated fifteen existing EU Directives on the
recognition of qualifications. The directive includes greater
liberalisation of the provision of services, more automatic
recognition of qualifications and increased flexibility in the
procedures for updating the directive. In this way, the directive
will contribute to the goal of the EU's Lisbon strategy to make the European
economy more dynamic and competitive.
An evaluation of the Professional Qualifications Directive and
subsequent public consultations highlighted a number of
difficulties, from the efficiency of recognition procedures to the
justification of qualifications requirements in regulating
professions.
The European Commission adopted a legislative proposal aiming to address the
highlighted issues on 19 December 2011. Proposed new measures
include the introduction of European Professional Cards and
e-government facilities, as well as a mutual evaluation of
regulated professions.
Given the relevance of the proposal for growth, the Annual Growth Survey 2012 proposed that it
should be fast-tracked, and the European Commission would encourage
the co-legislators to work towards agreement on this proposal by
the end of 2012.
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