A new European
Professional Card due to be introduced across all
member states will give people interested in working
abroad the benefit of swifter and smoother
recognition of their qualifications, writes Jessie
Magee.
The EU has had a system for the mutual recognition
of some 750 professional qualifications in different
countries since 2005. However up until now,
professionals have to apply to the authorities in
the country they are moving to in order to get their
qualifications recognised, often a tricky and
cumbersome process. Under the new streamlined
system, which is still in its draft stages,
professionals can ask their home country to arrange
their recognition abroad. Recognition procedures
will be able to be completed online, and a new
public EU database will set out all the information
on the recognition of qualifications, including
lists of competent authorities and documents
required. The database will also explain which
professions are unregulated; for example, florists
and taxi drivers are not regulated in all member
states. Seven professional qualifications are
automatically recognised throughout the EU: doctors,
dentists, pharmacists, nurses, midwives, veterinary
surgeons and architects.
Labour MEP and former mid-wife Phil Prendergast
welcomed the vote in favour of the new Professional
Card which she said will improve the ability of
people to move and work in different member states.
Ms Prendergast also explained how she managed to
amend the new legislation to close a loophole under
which rogue medical professionals sometimes managed
to secure work abroad. “We have included a new EU-wide
alert system to notify all national authorities
within three days, whenever doctors or nurses are
struck off due to criminal convictions or
disciplinary action. This will prevent them from
moving to practice abroad,” she said.
The draft rules have been approved by the European
Parliament, however they still have to get the green
light from member states. |
