{"id":18178,"date":"2022-09-24T11:39:19","date_gmt":"2022-09-24T11:39:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/legalblog.ie\/?p=18178"},"modified":"2022-09-24T16:28:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-24T16:28:02","slug":"qualifications-recognition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"Qualifications Recognition [EU]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_63 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#System_for_the_recognition_of_professional_qualifications\" title=\"System for the recognition of professional qualifications\">System for the recognition of professional qualifications<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Temporary_mobility\" title=\"Temporary mobility\">Temporary mobility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Partial_access\" title=\"Partial access\">Partial access<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#European_professional_card_EPC\" title=\"European professional card (EPC)\">European professional card (EPC)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Access_to_online_information_and_procedures\" title=\"Access to online information and procedures\">Access to online information and procedures<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Implementing_and_delegated_acts\" title=\"Implementing and delegated acts\">Implementing and delegated acts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#MAIN_DOCUMENT\" title=\"MAIN DOCUMENT\">MAIN DOCUMENT<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Proportionality_test_for_new_regulation_of_professions\" title=\"Proportionality test for new regulation of professions\">Proportionality test for new regulation of professions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Regulated_professions\" title=\"Regulated professions\">Regulated professions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Public_interest\" title=\"Public interest\">Public interest<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Assessment_of_new_measures_beforehand_and_monitoring_afterwards\" title=\"Assessment of new measures beforehand and monitoring afterwards\">Assessment of new measures beforehand and monitoring afterwards<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Assessment\" title=\"Assessment\">Assessment<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Proportionality\" title=\"Proportionality\">Proportionality<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#Transparency\" title=\"Transparency\">Transparency<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/qualifications-recognition\/#MAIN_DOCUMENT-2\" title=\"MAIN DOCUMENT\">MAIN DOCUMENT<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"System_for_the_recognition_of_professional_qualifications\"><\/span>System for the recognition of professional qualifications<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Directive 2005\/36\/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications<\/p>\n<p>It sets up a system for the recognition of professional qualifications in the European Union (EU), which also extends, with certain adaptations, to the other European Economic Area (EEA\/EFTA) countries and to Switzerland.<\/p>\n<p>It aims to provide access to labour markets for professionals in other EU countries, further facilitate cross-border service provision and simplify administrative procedures.<br \/>\nIt lays down rules on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications between the EU, EEA\/EFTA countries and Switzerland.<br \/>\nIt introduced a mutual evaluation of national professional regulations and a transparency exercise (i.e. screening the entry restrictions to professions and assessing their necessity).<\/p>\n<p>It also contains ongoing transparency obligations requiring all EU countries to report on the professions they regulate, and to communicate to the European Commission the reasons for considering that existing or new requirements comply with the principles of non-discrimination and proportionality.<br \/>\nIt applies to all nationals of EU and EEA\/EFTA countries and Switzerland wishing to pursue a regulated profession, either on a self-employed or an employed basis, in a country other than that where they obtained their professional qualifications.<\/p>\n<p>The Commission has published an interactive map of the regulated professions in Europe. These are professions to which access, or the right to practice, depends on having specific qualifications. They also include professions for which the use of a specific title is protected, such as chartered and certified accountants in Ireland.<br \/>\nIt does not apply to professions covered by specific directives such as Directive 2006\/43\/EC on statutory auditors. In the case of lawyers, while their qualifications are covered by Directive 2005\/36\/EC, they also benefit from two specific directives (77\/249\/EEC and 98\/5\/EC) which introduce additional ways for them to provide cross-border services, either temporarily or by establishing themselves permanently in other EU countries.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Temporary_mobility\"><\/span>Temporary mobility<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Professionals may provide their services in another EU country on a temporary and occasional basis from their place of establishment in their home country.<br \/>\nThe destination country may ask for a prior declaration but they do not have to go through the recognition procedures.<br \/>\nThis does not apply to professions that have public health and safety implications, for which EU countries may require prior recognition of their qualification under Article 7(4) of the directive.<br \/>\nPermanent establishment<\/p>\n<p>The directive provides for 3 qualification recognition systems:<\/p>\n<p>1.automatic recognition for professions whose minimum training conditions are harmonised to a certain extent at European level: doctors, nurses responsible for general care, dentists, veterinary surgeons, midwives, pharmacists and architects;<\/p>\n<p>2.automatic recognition for certain occupations based on their professional experience: professionals in crafts, trades and industry;<\/p>\n<p>3.the general system for the abovementioned professions which are not covered by the automatic recognition system is based on the principle of mutual recognition of qualifications.<br \/>\nThe general system also applies to the other regulated professions where access is granted to any individual who can demonstrate that he or she is fully qualified in their home country.<\/p>\n<p>However, if the authorities of the host country find significant differences between the training acquired in the individual\u2019s home country and that required for the same activity in their country, they can offer the individual the choice of an adaptation period or an aptitude test. The professional experience of the applicant has to be taken into account when considering the imposition and extent of such compensation measures.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Partial_access\"><\/span>Partial access<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The directive introduced the principle of partial access to a profession where the activities covered by a regulated profession differ from one country to another.<br \/>\nThis can be useful for professionals working in a genuine sector of the economy that does not exist as a profession in its own right in the EU country to which they wish to move.<br \/>\nLanguage checks<\/p>\n<p>The directive only allows host countries to carry out systematic language checks for professions that have implications on patient safety.<br \/>\nLanguage checks should take place only after the host country has recognised the qualification, should be limited to the knowledge of one official or administrative language of the host country and be proportionate to the activity to be pursued.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"European_professional_card_EPC\"><\/span>European professional card (EPC)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The directive as amended by Directive 2013\/55\/EU (applicable in EU countries from 18 January 2016) provides for the possibility of creation of a European professional card (EPC) for selected professions. This allows professionals to obtain recognition of their qualifications more simply and rapidly through a standardised electronic procedure. The card is based on the use of the internal market information system (IMI) and is issued in the form of an electronic certificate.<br \/>\nThe EPC has already been implemented in the first wave for nurses responsible for general care, physiotherapists, pharmacists, mountain guides and real estate agents.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Access_to_online_information_and_procedures\"><\/span>Access to online information and procedures<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU countries must make all information on recognition of qualifications for all regulated professions available through points of single contact.<br \/>\nProfessionals should be able to complete the procedures and formalities covered by the directive online through the point of single contact or the competent authorities in charge of the profession.<br \/>\nAssistance centres in each EU country must provide advice and assistance to individual cases.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Implementing_and_delegated_acts\"><\/span>Implementing and delegated acts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In 2015, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015\/983 which sets out the procedure for:<\/p>\n<p>issuing the EPC; and<br \/>\napplying an alert mechanism introduced by Directive 2005\/36\/EC that ensures that EU patients and consumers are adequately protected from professionals who have been prohibited or restricted from practising the profession in one country or have used falsified diplomas for their application for the recognition of their qualification.<\/p>\n<p>In 2020, the Commission adopted Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020\/1190 correcting Regulation (EU) 2015\/983 and clarifying that the competent authority of the home EU country shall decide whether to extend temporary EPCs issued after the prior check of qualifications under Article 7(4) of the Directive.<\/p>\n<p>The Commission has also adopted Delegated Decisions (EU) 2016\/790, (EU) 2017\/2113, (EU) 2019\/608 and (EU) 2020\/548 amending Annex V to Directive 2005\/36\/EC and updating the list of the evidence of automatically recognised formal qualifications and training courses.<\/p>\n<p>Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019\/907 establishing a Common Training Test for ski instructors (CTT) created in 2019 an additional and voluntary scheme of automatic recognition for ski instructors across the EU. Ski instructors not covered by the CTT still benefit from the general system for mutual recognition of qualifications set out in the directive.<\/p>\n<p>COVID-19 pandemic<\/p>\n<p>Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and introducing measures to cope with the impact of the crisis, the Commission adopted a communication containing guidelines on EU emergency assistance on cross-border cooperation in healthcare related to the COVID-19 crisis.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MAIN_DOCUMENT\"><\/span>MAIN DOCUMENT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Directive 2005\/36\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, pp. 22-142)<\/p>\n<p>Successive amendments to Directive 2005\/36\/EC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.<\/p>\n<p>RELATED DOCUMENTS<br \/>\nCommission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015\/983 of 24 June 2015 on the procedure for issuance of the European Professional Card and the application of the alert mechanism pursuant to Directive 2005\/36\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 159, 25.6.2015, pp. 27-42)<\/p>\n<p>See consolidated version.<\/p>\n<p>Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020\/1190 of 11 August 2020 correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015\/983 on the procedure for issuance of the European Professional Card and the application of the alert mechanism pursuant to Directive 2005\/36\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 262, 12.8.2020, pp. 4-5)<\/p>\n<p>Communication from the Commission \u2014 Guidelines on EU Emergency Assistance on Cross-Border Cooperation in Healthcare related to the COVID-19 crisis (OJ C 111 I , 3.4.2020, pp. 1-5)<\/p>\n<p>Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019\/907 of 14 March 2019 establishing a Common Training Test for ski instructors under Article 49b of Directive 2005\/36\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of the professional qualifications (OJ L 145, 4.6.2019, pp. 7-18)<\/p>\n<p>See consolidated version.<\/p>\n<p>Commission Decision 2007\/172\/EC of 19 March 2007 setting up the group of coordinators for the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ L 79 of 20.3.2007, pp. 38-39)<\/p>\n<p>Directive 98\/5\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 to facilitate practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a Member State other than that in which the qualification was obtained (OJ L 77, 14.3.1998, pp. 36-43)<\/p>\n<p>See consolidated version.<\/p>\n<p>Council Directive 77\/249\/EEC of 22 March 1977 to facilitate the effective exercise by lawyers of freedom to provide services (OJ L 78, 26.3.1977, pp. 17-18)<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Proportionality_test_for_new_regulation_of_professions\"><\/span>Proportionality test for new regulation of professions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Directive (EU) 2018\/958 \u2014 proportionality test before adoption of new regulation of professions<\/p>\n<p>It establishes rules for proportionality assessments to be conducted by EU countries before adopting new professional regulations or amending existing regulations.<\/p>\n<p>It aims to:<\/p>\n<p>prevent undue restrictions on access to or the pursuit of professional activities;<br \/>\nensure:<br \/>\ntransparency;<br \/>\nthe proper functioning of the internal market.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Regulated_professions\"><\/span>Regulated professions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The directive applies to new rules in EU countries which restrict access to or the pursuit of regulated professions.<br \/>\nA regulated profession means that the access to or the pursuit of a professional activity or group of professional activities is restricted, by regulation, to people having specific professional qualifications. This also covers the use of professional titles which are restricted to holders of specific qualifications.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Public_interest\"><\/span>Public interest<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU countries must ensure that any new or amending rules are justified and proportionate with regard to public interest objectives recognised by the Court of Justice of the European Union, such as:<\/p>\n<p>public policy, public security or public health;<br \/>\nprotecting consumers, the recipients of services, and workers;<br \/>\nsafeguarding the effectiveness of fiscal supervision;<br \/>\ncombating fraud and preventing tax evasion and avoidance;<br \/>\nprotection of the environment.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Assessment_of_new_measures_beforehand_and_monitoring_afterwards\"><\/span>Assessment of new measures beforehand and monitoring afterwards<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>EU countries must:<\/p>\n<p>assess the proportionality of a measure before introducing new, or amending existing, legislative, regulatory or administrative rules; and<br \/>\nmonitor the compliance of such measures with the principle of proportionality after their adoption.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Assessment\"><\/span>Assessment<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The assessment must be:<\/p>\n<p>accompanied by a sufficiently detailed explanation which allows for an assessment of whether it complies with the principle of proportionality;<br \/>\nundertaken on the basis of qualitative, and where possible, quantitative evidence;<br \/>\ncarried out in an open and objective manner.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Proportionality\"><\/span>Proportionality<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>In assessing the proportionality of new or amending rules, EU countries must consider a number of proportionality criteria established by the Court of Justice, including:<\/p>\n<p>whether the measure can achieve the public interest objective, and whether that objective is being pursued in a consistent and systematic manner for comparable activities;<br \/>\nwhether existing rules, such as product safety law or consumer protection law, are not able to achieve the objective;<br \/>\nthe impact on the free movement of persons and services within the EU, on consumer choice and on the quality of the service provided;<br \/>\nwhether less restrictive means could achieve the public interest objective;<br \/>\nthe effect of new rules when combined with other requirements.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Transparency\"><\/span>Transparency<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Before introducing new regulations, EU countries must:<\/p>\n<p>make information available to the relevant people concerned; and<br \/>\nmust give them the opportunity to make their views known.<br \/>\nThe reasons for proportionality need to be recorded in the Regulated Professions Database and made publicly available.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"MAIN_DOCUMENT-2\"><\/span>MAIN DOCUMENT<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Directive (EU) 2018\/958 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 June 2018 on a proportionality test before adoption of new regulation of professions (OJ L 173, 9.7.2018, pp. 25-34)<\/p>\n<p>RELATED DOCUMENT<\/p>\n<p>Directive 2005\/36\/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (OJ L 255, 30.9.2005, pp. 22-142)<\/p>\n<p>Successive amendments to Directive 2005\/36\/EC have been incorporated into the original document. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.<\/p>\n<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-18178\" data-postid=\"18178\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-18178 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n    <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>System for the recognition of professional qualifications Directive 2005\/36\/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications It sets up a system for the recognition of professional qualifications in the European Union (EU), which also extends, with certain adaptations, to the other European Economic Area (EEA\/EFTA) countries and to Switzerland. It aims to provide access to labour [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[120],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18178"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18178"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18277,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18178\/revisions\/18277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legalblog.ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}