Press Release: Commission launches public consultation on the Professional Qualifications Directive and a European Professional Card

The Commission has launched a public consultation on the Professional Qualifications Directive (Directive 2005/36/EC). The consultation is an opportunity for stakeholders to highlight areas of the Directive they feel could be simplified and made more user-friendly. It also seeks views on how to better integrate professionals working in the Single Market, and raises the option of a European Professional Card. This Directive is key to enabling professionals to take full advantage of the potential of the Single Market in finding a job or extending their business in another Member State.

Updating this Directive is one of the actions set out in the Single Market Act adopted in October 2010 and follows Commission reports on how the Directive works in practice. The results of the Consultation will feed into an evaluation report and a Green Paper due in autumn 2011. The Commission will come forward with a proposal for modernising the Directive in 2012. Stakeholders are invited to respond until 15 March 2011, and a public hearing is scheduled for 21 February.

European Commission: Memo/11/7: Public consultation on the Professional Qualifications Directive and a European Professional Card: FAQs http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/11/7&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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