IP/08/688

Brussels, 6 May 2008

Professional qualifications: Commission acts to ensure nine Member States implement EU laws

The Commission has decided to send a reasoned opinion to nine Member States, namely Ireland, Greece, France, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Hungary, Austria, Portugal and Slovenia, for failing to notify it of their transposition measures for Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications.

This Directive is the result of the reform of the system of recognition of professional qualifications undertaken by the Commission in order to promote flexibility on the labour markets, further liberalise the provision of services, make the recognition of qualifications more automatic and simplify administrative procedures.

The Directive consolidates in a single piece of legislation fifteen directives, including twelve sectoral directives covering the professions of doctor, nurse responsible for general care, dental practitioner, veterinary surgeon, midwife, pharmacist and architect, and three directives which introduced a general system of recognition of professional qualifications and covered most other regulated professions. The Directive simplifies the structure of the system of recognition of qualifications and improves the way it operates. It thus aims to facilitate mobility within the internal market for qualified people moving to another Member State either to provide a service or to settle there permanently.

The latest information on infringement proceedings concerning all Member States is available at:

http://ec.europa.eu/community_law/index_en.htm