The European professional card is a project aimed to facilitate the free movement of professionals in the EU under a possible future modernisation of the Professional Qualifications Directive. The implementation of the project has been subject to discussions within a special group established for the purpose – "Steering Group on the professional card" (see below).
The card should simplify the administrative procedure for recognition, make it more transparent for citizens and increase trust among the competent authorities of EU Member States.
The Commission outlined the main features of such a card in its Green Paper of 22 June 2011.
The Steering Group on the Professional Card
The Commission launched an expert group on a European Professional Card in January 2011. The Group - called Steering group- comprised representatives of Member States national administrations (Ministries of Economy, Ministries of Education, Ministries of Health), competent authorities and a range of different professional organisations. The group was chaired by the Commission services.
The Group held six meetings; the last meeting took place in September 2011. The discussions in sub-group resulted in case studies for different professions (doctors, engineers, mountain guides, nurses, physiotherapists). Moreover, participants discussed two further papers on the profession of real estate agents and on ideas by some competent authorities in charge of the regulation of pharmacists.
Case studies and working documents
-
Case study for the profession of nurse
-
Case study for the profession of engineer
-
Case study for the profession of doctor
-
Working document for the profession of pharmacist
-
Working document for the profession of real estate agent
-
Case study for the profession of physiotherapist
-
Case study for the profession of mountain guide