Directive 2013/55 - Amendment of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System ( ‘the IMI Regulation’ ) - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 354/132

Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications (3) consolidated a system of mutual recognition which was initially based on 15 Directives. It provides for automatic recognition for a limited number of professions based on harmonised minimum training requirements (sectoral professions), a general system for the recognition of evidence of training and automatic recognition of professional experience. Directive 2005/36/EC also established a new system of free provision of services. It should be recalled that third-country family members of Union citizens benefit from equal treatment in accordance with Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States (4). Third-country nationals may also benefit from equal treatment with regard to recognition of diplomas, certificates and other professional qualifications, in accordance with the relevant national procedures, under specific Union legal acts such as those on long-term residence, refugees, ‘blue card holders’ and scientific researchers.

In its Communication of 27 October 2010 entitled ‘Single Market Act, Twelve levers to boost growth and strengthen confidence, ‘Working together to create new growth’, the Commission identified the need to modernise Union law in this area. On 23 October 2011, the European Council in its conclusions supported such a modernisation and urged the European Parliament and the Council to reach a political agreement on the revision of Directive 2005/36/EC by the end of 2012. In its resolution of 15 November 2011 on the implementation of the Professional Qualifications Directive (2005/36/EC) (5), the European Parliament also invited the Commission to come forward with a proposal. The EU Citizenship report 2010 of 27 October 2010 entitled ‘Dismantling the obstacles to EU citizens’ rights’ underlines the need to lighten the administrative burden linked to the recognition of professional qualifications.

Notaries who are appointed by an official act of government should be excluded from the scope of Directive 2005/36/EC in view of the specific and differing regimes applicable to them in individual Member States for accessing and pursuing the profession.

For the purposes of strengthening the internal market and promoting the free movement of professionals while ensuring a more efficient and transparent recognition of professional qualifications, a European Professional Card would be of added value. In particular, that Card would be useful to facilitate temporary mobility and recognition under the automatic recognition system, as well as to promote a simplified recognition process under the general system. The purpose of the European Professional Card is to simplify the recognition process and to introduce cost...