Steps to make it easier for people to work abroad and have their qualifications recognised in another country were debated on 26 October. Professions like engineers, architects, accountants and doctors still struggle to find their qualifications recognised outside their home country hindering their ability to find a job abroad. MEPs on the Internal Market Committee met with MPs from national MPs ahead of an overhaul of the existing Recognition of Professional Qualifications directive by 2012.
The current 2005 Directive provides rules for up to 800 professions and foresees automatic recognition of 7 professions across Europe. However, the directive has revealed its shortcomings and weaknesses. Many speakers identified loopholes and anomalies in the current system.
In particular the hearing found shortcomings in the following areas:
* Public health and consumer protection
* Language skills and translation of documents need to be looked at
* Quality of education and training and also the trustworthiness of diplomas has been another issue identified. Many called for more comparability of school and University curricula and for more standardisation of European education
* The development of "Professional Cards" was suggested as one of the easiest solutions, namely to reduce red tape
A working document from the European Commission presented at the hearing stated that some EU States had failed properly to implement the directive. The Commission is set to review the Professional Qualifications Directive in 2011 and intends to present its new proposal in 2012. At the end of this year a public consultation will be launched aimed at professionals, employers and consumers to hear their views on the current situation.
News source: European Parliament link: article
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