EEA EFTA States welcome the modernisation of the Professional Qualifications Directive

Published 27-09-2011
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway today welcomed the efforts of the European Union to modernise and simplify the Directive on Professional Qualifications, adopted in 2005. In the EEA EFTA comment to the recent European Commission’s Green Paper, they recognise the importance of this process in encouraging the mobility of professionals in the European Union and throughout the entire European Economic Area (EEA).

The EEA EFTA States believe it’s essential that the directive sets out clear and simple rules which at the same time ensure high quality services and safety for consumers. Recent developments in education and training policies should also be taken into account.

Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway also expressed their general support for a European Professional Card. They believe that such a card could be especially useful for regulated harmonised professions. However, the way in which such a card is implemented needs to be carefully considered.

In addition, the EEA EFTA States believe it’s important to enable people to work and provide services in other EEA States in order to improve the functioning of the Single Market. In this respect, it's important to ensure that information on the competent authorities and the required documentation for the recognition of professional qualifications is readily available.

To see the EEA EFTA Comment, click here.

To see the European Commission’s Green Paper, click here.

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