Ireland failing to comply with EU rules on professional qualifications
Ireland is one of 22 EU member states who are failing to comply with EU rules on professional qualifications, according to the European Commission.
The Commission has opened infringement procedures by sending formal letters of notice to the countries.
The rules are designed to make it easier for professionals to provide their services on a temporary and occasional basis in different EU member states, whilst guaranteeing protection for consumers and citizens.
For professions having public health and safety implications, countries may check qualifications before allowing the provision of services.
Such prior checks can significantly delay the start of the activities, and therefore they can only be imposed under strict conditions, in particular when a lack of professional qualifications could lead to serious damage to the health or safety of the service recipient.
“The Commission considers that these 22 Member States require prior checks in an unjustified way for several professions that do not satisfy the conditions under which such checks are allowed and has focused this enforcement action on three areas of particular importance, i.e. construction, transport and business services,” the Commission said in a statement.
“The Commission is therefore sending a letter of formal notice to Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, and Sweden, which now have two months to respond and address the shortcomings raised by the Commission,” it added.
In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission said it may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science said the letter of formal notice issued by the European Commission identified a limited set of issues within seven regulated professions in Ireland where it believes the requirement for a prior check of qualifications exceeds the scope provided for by the directive.
“The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is currently reviewing the Commission’s findings and will in turn be engaging with the regulating departments and authorities of the professions in question to examine the Commission’s findings and to prepare an appropriate response within the timeframe available,” a spokesperson said.
Article Source – Ireland failing to comply with EU rules on professional qualifications – RTE
