European Commission proposes simplifying recognition of qualifications — The Local Sweden
In Sweden, The Local Sweden reports that the European Commission has proposed new rules to simplify the recognition of professional qualifications held by citizens of countries outside the European Union. The initiative is intended to help employers in the EU hire specialists from outside the bloc more quickly and address labour and skills shortages.
Current procedure
There are currently no specific EU rules on recognising the qualifications of third-country nationals. The Professional Qualifications Directive is based on single market legislation, so its scope is limited to EU citizens. Other applicants have access only to separate provisions on equal treatment with nationals of the respective member state.
The European Commission noted that national rules make the procedure fragmented, overly complex and non-transparent. According to its assessment, it costs an average of €1,500 and takes 14.2 months. Around 70% of surveyed non-EU citizens said the length of the process was a major or very major problem.
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What the proposal provides for
The proposed directive will apply to non-EU citizens who already live in an EU country or plan to move and live there. It will cover qualifications obtained in another EU member state or outside the bloc, both for access to a regulated profession and for obtaining a long-term visa or residence permit.
The proposal provides for harmonising document requirements across EU countries, setting deadlines for considering applications and the right to appeal decisions. At the same time, a decision to recognise a qualification will not automatically apply in other member states.
It is also proposed to automatically recognise qualifications obtained in third countries for seven professions: doctors, general care nurses, dentists, midwives, veterinarians, pharmacists and architects. This will apply to qualifications issued by accredited institutions that have been checked for compliance with EU standards by trusted European agencies.
