91997E3638

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3638/97 by Christof Tannert (PSE) to the Commission (13 November 1997)

Subject: EU-wide recognition of training in special needs teaching and social work professions in Berlin

The Berlin Senate is planning to introduce legislation on State recognition of special needs teaching and social work professions in Berlin (the Social Professions Recognition Act - SozBAG). The intention is change the training of social workers and special needs teachers (currently comprising three years of study plus practical training) by halving the period of practical training from the current 12 months to six, for a transitional period lasting at most until 31 December 2006.

Will the Commission state whether there will still be EU-wide recognition of training in special needs teaching and social work professions in Berlin, in view of the planned reduction in the period of training, entailing practical training lasting 12 months rather than six?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (6 January 1998)

The Honourable Member's question refers to a similar situation to that raised in Written Question E-1936/97 ((OJ C 21, 22.1.1998, p. 122. )). The recognition of diplomas for special needs teachers and social workers, in the Member States in which these professions are regulated, is governed by the Community Directives which introduced the general system for the recognition of diplomas. Depending on the level of the studies covered by the diplomas, the relevant Directives are either 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 ((OJ L 19, 24.1.1989. )), or 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 ((OJ L 209, 24.7.1992. )).

Each Member State remains free to determine the level of qualifications required in order to work as a special needs teacher or social worker within its territory. The Directives did not harmonise training, but established a recognition system under which a diploma providing access to a given profession in a Member State must be recognised for the purpose of exercising the same profession in another Member State, despite differences between education and training systems. The relevant diploma is covered by the recognition arrangements established by Directive 92/51/EEC. That Directive provides that, in the event of substantial differences in duration or content between the training acquired by the migrant and the training required in the host Member State, the authorities in the host Member State may impose a compensatory measure (adaptation period or aptitude test). In certain cases, therefore, having regard to the duration of the new German diploma and the duration required in the host Member State, the application of one of these compensatory measures may be justified.