Recognition of professional qualifications qualified

MEPs have tightened up Brussels plans for the EU-wide recognition of professional qualifications.

The European Parliament on Wednesday supported proposals aimed at allowing workers free movement across Europe.

A range of professionals - from doctors, engineers, and architects to pharmacists and accountants – will find it easier to find to work abroad with the new EU rules removing red tape which causes difficulties with the recognition of qualifications.

But medical groups had raised concerns over moves to allow doctors to practice within the EU for 16 weeks without registering with national health authorities.

And MEPs voted to scrap these provisions.

Socialist MEP Arlene McCarthy welcomed the outcome of the vote: "Without being forced to register disgraced medics - who might have been struck off national registers for negligence or even criminal acts - could have upped sticks and simply moved to another country."

"We want free movement of labour, but we don't want the dangerous, the criminal and the disqualified given a right to roam."

John Bowis, a UK Conservative MEP said, “Many amendments affecting the health professions have been accepted”.

“We have ensured that professionals treating patients have to meet appropriate and consistent standards, including language competence.”

Another area of contention in the original European Commission proposal, COM/2002/119,  was a provision allowing a worker with qualifications required in one EU country access to the same profession in a second European country, even if the qualification required there was set at a higher level.

MEPs also rejected this proposal, arguing that access to a profession should be set at the same level to prevent “qualification shopping”.

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