Mutual Recognition Of Professional Qualifications Research Articles

Training in Radiation and Clinical Oncology in Europe.

The European population is strongly affected by cancer. Radiotherapy is roughly used in 50% of cancer patients in European countries. The increased cancer burden demands a new generation of radiation/clinical oncologist (RO/CO) that, besides a strong evidence-based oncological knowledge, will be ready for leadership in cancer care. The mutual recognition of professional qualifications of Radiation/Clinical Oncology in the EU needs training harmonization. The European Society of Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) and the European Union for Medical Specialties (UEMS) made important efforts toward a European Common Curriculum for RO/CO leadership in cancer care. If qualifications are mutually recognized, the training supporting these qualifications should be also harmonized. Since 1991, ESTRO produced several editions of the Core Curriculum in Radiation Oncology (1991, 2004, 2012, 2019). These Core Curricula were endorsed as European Training Requirements by the UEMS in 2004, 2013, and 2019. A core curriculum for clinical oncology was also produced to provide this harmonization tool to countries where radiation oncology is practiced inside the broader specialty of clinical oncology. New initiatives are in place to continuously adapt the training programs to the rapidly evolving cancer care organization.

Book review: Switzerland and the European Union: The Implications of the Institutional Framework and the Right of Free Movement for the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications, by Joel Günthardt. (Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2021)

Book review: <i>Switzerland and the European Union: The Implications of the Institutional Framework and the Right of Free Movement for the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications</i>, by Joel Günthardt. (Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2021)

Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications and the Freedom of Movement for Workers in the EU and EAEU

Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications and the Freedom of Movement for Workers in the EU and EAEU

Implementation of the freedom of establishment in relation to the notary profession, with particular emphasis on mutual recognition of professional qualifications

The possibility of applying the freedom of establishment to notaries is a complex legal issue due to the characteristics of this profession, mainly considering the connection of EU notaries with the operation of the state apparatus as established in individual member states. Additionally, as it seems, it is an ambiguously regulated area in the field of mutual recognition of professional qualifications. The research problem discussed in this article is a consideration whether, firstly, despite the legal nature of their profession (which, moreover, is not uniform for all member states), notaries as a professional group may exercise the freedom of establishment and, secondly, if in consequence they may be subject to mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and if so — on what legal basis.

Professional Qualifications’ Recognition and Megascience Projects

The article is devoted to the analyzes of the issues of legal regulation of mutual recognition of professional qualifications in the context of increasing cross-border scientific cooperation, the emergence of new forms of cooperation and exchange of workforce, in particular in the framework of megascience class projects i.e. great science. The EU was the first integrational organization among the other organizations existing in Europe and the world that recognized the need to develop special legal mechanisms to ensure cross-border mobility of qualified specialists, and also adopted acts to conduct research within megascience (both at the EU and individual states level). The participation of scientists from various countries in megascience projects involves the integration of states not only to create structural units (cross-border associations) for the implementation of large-scale research, but also the integration of the economic and educational space, free movement of scientists.

New generation trade agreements as an economic challenge for the European Union and its Member States – the case of CETA

The so-called new-generation trade agreements, such as the CETA agreement signed by the EU and Canada, include not only the liberalization of trade in goods and the creation of a free trade area, but also many other areas, such as liberalization of the services market, including public services, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, deregulation and liberalization of financial markets, enhanced cooperation in the protection of intellectual property, and mutual investment protection. The considerations carried out in this work show that the analysis of the consequences of this type of agreements should be carried out not only at the level of the entire EU but also from the perspective of individual member states whose level of economic development and economic structures differ significantly. This is important for proper preparation for the entry into force of such an agreement, creating conditions for the full use of the opportunities arising from it and for adapting to the new market-specific situation and avoiding the greatest possible threats.

Integration Character of the CETA Agreement

One of the manifestations of economic globalisation seen in recent years is the so‑called “new generation” type of trade agreements such as the TPP, CETA and TTIP. They aim at trade liberalisation, but their scope is broader, comprising other areas of socio‑economic life, more or less directly linked to trade, such as e.g.: the liberalisation of public services, the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, the deregulation and liberalisation of financial markets, the protection of intellectual property rights, and the cooperation in creating new rules or protecting mutual investments. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyse the scope and content of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in 2016 by the European Union and Canada from the point of view of the Balassa stages of economic integration and the EU’s experience in order to state whether the naming of such agreements as trade agreements, even with the “new generation” qualification, is really justified. The analysis presented in this paper leads to the conclusion that this agreement should rather be included in the category of agreements labelled as integration agreements. Most of the CETA provisions are at the same level of sophistication as was achieved by the EU countries at the stage of building the single market, that is, at the stage of the implementation of the common market in Balassa’s nomenclature, and some of them are at the stage of economic and monetary union. The scope of the CETA, i.e. the number of areas of social and economic life regulated by it as well as their advancement and complexity, goes far beyond what is commonly understood as a trade agreement and beyond its official purpose – the creation of a free trade area between the European Union and Canada. It leads to economic integration at a level far deeper than a free trade area in its classic and common sense.

The migration of professionals within the EU: Any barriers left?

AbstractAs shown by the intense legislative effort at the European Union level, the mutual recognition of professional qualifications represents an important step towards the completion of the single EU labor market. In this paper we provide the first empirical evidence on the link between intra‐EU mobility and mutual recognition of professional qualifications. Our results show that bilateral EU migration is positively affected by the destination country's rate of recognition of professional qualifications obtained in another EU member state.

Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications within the European Union Agreements with Third Countries

This article is devoted to the analysis of the establishment of the professional recognition systems in the European Union agreements with third countries. The issue of mutual recognition of professional qualifications is one of the key elements of the European Union economic integration with third countries. France-Quebec Agreement on Mutual Recognition of Qualifications is the first initiative between the European Union member state and a Canadian province. The agreement supports efforts aimed at negotiating an economic partnership between the European Union and Canada. The agreement applies to all regulated professions and trades in France and Quebec, and is based on the recognition of qualifications. It sets frame for signing first Mutual recognition of professional qualifications agreements pertaining to some thirty trades and professions, and for the other regulated professions. The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement arrangements for the mutual recognition of qualifications grew out of the Franco - Quebecois Agreement. The agreement provides a framework to facilitate the mutual recognition of qualifications in regulated professions such as architects, accountants and engineers. The relevant professional organizations in the European Union and Canada now have a framework that sets out the conditions for the negotiation of mutual recognition agreements for their respective professions. The agreement sets mechanism for professional recognition systems and procedure of its formation. It is an example of European Union cooperation with third countries and a new way of cooperation in the scope of mutual recognition. The mechanism of the European Union cooperation with third countries within the mutual recognition scope can be used by other integrational associations in particular by the Eurasian Economic Union.

Medical migration within Europe: opportunities and challenges

The free movement of European citizens to live and work within the European Union (EU) is one of the fundamental pillars of the European single market. Recent EU legislation on the recognition of professional qualifications (to take effect January 2016) updates the framework within which doctors and others can migrate freely between EU member states to practise their profession. UK organisations lobbied extensively to change aspects of the original proposals, in particular those that threatened to 'water down' public protection in the interest of free movement. The legislation finally adopted significantly increases safeguards for patients and the public. The revised law covers the rules to be applied by regulators on (for example) assuring language competence, warning 'blacklists' of practitioners subject to sanctions, 'fast track' registration based on mutual recognition of professional qualifications, agreed minimum education and training requirements for mutual recognition, and encouragement of continuing professional development. Drafting of detailed secondary legislation is ongoing and poses opportunities and challenges for patient safety, quality of care and transparency.

Toward collaborative governance between Hong Kong and Mainland China

Economic cooperation between Hong Kong and Mainland China, especially Guangdong province, has flourished since the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 1997. The landmark is the conclusion of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) between Hong Kong and the Mainland in 2003. CEPA covers liberalisation of trade in goods, liberalisation of trade in services, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and other trade facilitation measures. This paper uses the collaborative governance regime framework to analyse the economic cooperation between Hong Kong and Mainland China under CEPA. This case shows that if there are environmental conditions generating incentives for both parties to cooperate, a committed leadership on both sides to drive the regime, and institutional arrangements that could facilitate the collaborative dynamics, effective collaboration between players from different political and institutional backgrounds can still be achieved.

European Council formally adopts regulations to ease movement of doctors

The European Council has formally adopted new regulations to make it easier for doctors and other health professionals to work in other European countries. The sign-off on the revised Directive on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications on 15 November marks the conclusion of an approval process that began in 2011. European Union countries will now have two years to pass the directive into national law. The General Medical Council has welcomed the move, saying that the new regulations will enhance the safety of patients. The updated directive will permit national regulatory bodies to check the language skills of health professionals when a concern is raised during the registration process and to test their linguistic ability where necessary before allowing them to practise. A GMC spokesperson told …

Fast track graduate entry medical courses can continue, after European vote

The future of UK fast track graduate entry medical courses looks assured after the European parliament decided not to redefine the minimum medical training threshold.1 The parliament decided to retain the current threshold definition in the revised directive on mutual recognition of professional qualifications. This means that basic undergraduate training will be defined as consisting of five years of study and at least 5500 hours of theoretical and practical training. Last year an umbrella organisation of …

European parliament votes through directive on movement of doctors

The European parliament has given the go ahead to plans to facilitate the movement of doctors and other healthcare professionals among EU countries.1 The vote on the revised directive on mutual recognition of professional qualifications confirms an informal agreement reached by EU decision makers earlier this summer.2 The revisions are expected to be formally approved by the European Council within the next few weeks, after which member states …

Initial agreement is reached on EU rules on professional mobility

EU institutions have hammered out an initial agreement on a directive that would make it easier for EU doctors to practise in other European countries. Full details of the directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications are not yet available, but the deal is understood to cover all the substantive proposals set out in the draft directive in December 2011.12 The draft directive agreed by the European parliament, the Council of Ministers (representing the member states), and the European Commission will allow the UK General Medical Council to …

Obstacles to the Free Movement of Professionals: Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the European Union

Abstract European states are experiencing a shortage of healthcare workers, and hiring managers are increasingly looking for foreign-trained health professionals to fill care shortages. However, these workers often experience difficulties with the transfer of their professional qualifications across national borders. This article investigates the recognition of Polish nursing qualifications in the EU, studying the directives for mutual recognition of nursing qualifications, negotiations over Poland’s Accession Treaty, and efforts by the Polish Chamber of Nurses and Midwives to reverse its discriminatory conditions. It is argued that the exclusion of the Polish nursing unions from the accession negotiations constitutes a democratic deficit, and that the creation of a single European market is not yet achieved. The findings are placed in a larger discussion about the Europeanization of healthcare delivery, the harmonization of curricula in higher education, and the consequences of these developments for the free movement of skilled workers within the EU.

The Quebec-France Agreement on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications

The process leading to the mutual recognition of professional qualifications between nurses in Quebec and nurses in France took more than 3 years. This article describes the political context, the conditions of the agreement, the adaptation period program, the number of nurses affected, and the importance of maintaining professional nursing standards in the international context.

GMC expresses doubt over EC plans to free movement of doctors across Europe

Plans by the European Commission to simplify legislation that allows doctors to work anywhere in the European Union do not provide sufficient assurance of migrant doctors’ education, competency, or language skills, the General Medical Council has said. The United Kingdom’s medical regulator gave a stark warning about the commission’s proposals when giving evidence on 30 June to the House of Lords EU social policies and consumer protection subcommittee, as part of its inquiry into the mobility of healthcare professionals ( BMJ Careers 14 May, http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=20002963). Peers on the committee are holding the inquiry in response to the ongoing European Commission review of its directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications, which aims to have all member states recognise each other’s healthcare qualifications and simplify the movement of clinicians across countries. Giving evidence to the Lords select committee, Peter Rubin, the GMC’s chairman, said, “We support the principle of free movement of doctors in the EU, and we …

Changing educational paradigms in transfusion medicine

Over the past decades, the fields of activity and knowledge in transfusion medicine have evolved into an array of diverse areas and sub‐specialities including immunohaematology, blood component production, haemapheresis, pathogen detection, methods of cell and tissue collection and manipulation, cell conservation and banking, transplant immunology and haemostaseology. Physicians in most clinical disciplines require basic or more advanced knowledge in these fields to meet the requirements of modern medicine. Specialist physicians in transfusion medicine are valuable and competent partners for these related disciplines when it comes to safe, effective and tailored haemotherapy. Transfusion medicine is thus an important qualification at the interfaces of analytical laboratory medicine, pharmaceutical production and clinical disciplines such as internal medicine, anaesthesiology or surgery. In the past, blood transmittable diseases like HIV and hepatitis and adverse reactions to blood and cellular products have led to a complex system of regulatory and technical requirements. Good laboratory practice (GLP), good manufacturing practice (GMP), quality management systems and quality control on the pharmaceutical manufacturer’s level are only a few examples of the standards in today’s blood banking. European directives in the field of blood products, stem cell preparations and tissue have harmonized national regulation and led to higher uniform quality standards for biological preparations in a unified Europe, which is the desired outcome, but which also increases the complexity of this field. By contrast, directives 93/16/EEC, 2001/19/ EC, and 2005/36/EC, the directives of the European Parliament and of the Council on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications of European doctors currently in force, do not include transfusion medicine, blood transfusion or immune haematology at all. Other medical specialities, which like our field, are not common to all member states of the European Union, are listed in the above mentioned directives with the minimum length of training and minimal requirements for the qualifications. Bearing in mind the regional particularities of the medical speciality of transfusion medicine – caused by historical developments, rigidified by national legislations and the urgent need for quality standards also on the educatory level – we support a levelled approach in transfusion medicine education. Irrespective of the required day‐to‐day responsibilities in the blood field, which may range from basic level experience in haemotherapy, over specific knowledge of immunohaematology and clinical haemopathology, as needed for local blood bank management, up to the highest skill level required to direct a complex transfusion service and/or blood bank at an academic medical centre, transparent service quality requires defined minimum educational standards, which could then be adapted to fit specific national requirements. A long‐term objective might be to introduce the transfusion medicine specialisation into the above‐mentioned EC directives in order to guarantee quality and facilitate mutual recognition of transfusion medicine qualifications throughout Europe.

Un nouveau chantier transatlantique: l’entente France-Québec sur la reconnaissance des qualifications professionnelles

SommaireL’Entente entre le Québec et la France en matière de reconnaissance mutuelle des qualifications professionnelles de 2008est sans doute la plus importante que le Québec a conclue au cours des dernières années. Celle-ci met en place un système franco-québécois de reconnaissance mutuelle des titres professionnels acquis en France ou au Québec, afin de permettre l’établissement permanent des professionnels sur le territoire d’accueil. Ce système, qui s’inscrit dans la nouvelle politique internationale du Québec, a subi l’influence significative du système général de reconnaissance mutuelle des qualifications professionnelles de la Communauté européenne. Les deux systèmes sont fondés sur le principe qu’il n’est pas nécessaire d’harmoniser le contenu des formations pour opérer leur reconnaissance, mais que des mesures de compensation peuvent cependant être prescrites aux professionnels migrants. L’étude de la mise en oeuvre de l’ Entente montre que les ordres professionnels sont activement engagés dans la conclusion d’arrangements de reconnaissance mutuelle, mais que les mesures de compensation prescrites varient grandement d’une profession à l’autre. Certaines dispositions ambigües de l’Entente pourraient également s’avérer problématiques, quant à son champ d’application en particulier. Le fait que le système franco-québécois porte exclusivement sur l’établissement permanent des professionnels migrants signifie que celui-ci apparaît compatible avec le droit international économique et le droit communautaire, mais certaines difficultés pourraient survenir avec le droit international de l’investissement. Le nouveau chantier transatlantique qui est ouvert par l’Entente pourrait être un modèle à suivre, en plus de constituer un exemple où l’action international du Québec renforce celle du Canada sur la scène internationale, alors que celui-ci s’engage actuellement dans des négociations commerciales avec l’Union européenne..