WRITTEN QUESTION P-0505/01

by Gerard Collins (UEN) to the Commission

(14 February 2001)

Subject: Free movement of workers

The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) is a federation comprising 20 national geological associations in Europe, including those from all of the Member States within the European Union.

Geological science is a rapidly changing discipline. The activity of geoscientists impinges in an ever-increasing way upon the safety of the public. Educational and training provisions need to adapt to respond to those changes. For its part, a professional qualifying body in geoscience needs to be vigilant in assuring qualifying standards in its own field. At European level, the EFG is that body.

Pursuant to Directive 89/48/EEC(1) and Directive 92/51/EEC(2), the EFG has adopted a system of multilateral recognition between affiliated geological associations. Candidates who meet the requirements are awarded the professional title of European Geologist (EurGeol). Award of the designation signals the preparedness of the EFG to guarantee the qualifications of those who practise at the highest levels in all areas of the geosciences. Holders of the title must comply with the EFG's Code of Professional Conduct.

A candidate for the title must have satisfactorily completed a third-level educational programme and obtained satisfactory professional experience over a combined minimum total of eight years. The requirements are thus higher than the requirements laid down in the General Directive. Applicants for registration must be recommended by their National Association and accepted by the EFG Validation Committee before they are awarded the EurGeol title.

The aim of the EurGeol designation is to:

(a) recognise the practice of geoscience at a high level,

(b) set unambiguously clear and high standards that are recognisable by government, regulatory authorities and the public alike, and

(c) facilitate free movement of geologists within the European Union by means of mutual recognition of professional qualifications.

Does the Commission support this kind of initiative as a way of facilitating the free movement of professionals in the EU?

To what extent could the EurGeol title facilitate the recognition of national qualifications among Member States?

(1) OJ L 9, 24.1.1989, p. 16.

(2) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992, p. 25.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 March 2001)

The Commission has been informed of the existence of the title of European Geologist created by the European Federation of Geologists (EFG).

Although this title does not amount to a diploma within the meaning of Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988 on a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years' duration, and Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC(1), the Commission fully supports this move by the EFG, since it is likely to facilitate the free movement of geologists within the Community.

On the one hand, the title of European Geologist can be useful both to the national authorities entrusted with examining applications for the recognition of qualifications and diplomas acquired in another Member State, and to potential employers who have to assess the qualifications of candidates in possession of foreign diplomas.

On the other hand, in view of the criteria for awarding the title of European Geologist, possession of that title is evidence of a high level of competence regardless of the initial academic training of the professional concerned. In so far as, by virtue of the case law of the Court of Justice(2), the Member States must take account of the professional experience acquired by the migrant in addition to his diploma, when deciding on his application for recognition, the Commission considers that a geologist who has obtained the title of European Geologist should in principle not have to take an aptitude test or complete an adaptation period pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 89/48/EEC or Article 7 of Directive 92/51/EEC.

Finally, in its Communication of 7 February 2001 entitled Realisation of the European Union's potential: Consolidating and extending the Lisbon strategy(3), the Commission announced that it would be presenting, in 2002, proposals aimed at making the rules on the recognition of professional qualifications more uniform, more transparent and more flexible. Whilst based on the

current general system for recognition, more systematic involvement of the professional organisations and encouragement for the development of common platforms such as the one set up by the EFG should ensure a greater measure of automatic recognition of professional qualifications within the Community.

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989.

(2) Case C-340/89, Vlassopoulou, ECR I-2357.

(3) COM(2001) 79, followed by a second Communication adopted by the Commission on 28 February 2001 and entitled New European Labour Markets, Open to all, with Access for All, available in English on the Commission's site at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/empl&esf/news/labour.pdf.