By Henrietta Billings - 18th May 2004
National governments struck a landmark deal with the European Commission on Tuesday on EU plans for the recognition of professional qualifications.
"We have got an agreement on what was a sensitive and contentious issue," said deputy Irish prime minister Mary Harney after the talks.
"I believe this will prove to be a major step forward in ensuring that freedom of movement in the internal market is given real effect."
Brussels wants to make it easier for a range of professionals including doctors, architects, accountants – to work abroad by deeming national qualifications as valid EU-wide.
Negotiations had faltered on one key issue - the status of temporary and occasional cross-border workers and the freedom, for example, for an architect living on the German border to work for short periods in Italy.
Under the agreement agreed on Tuesday, when professionals first intend to set up services in another EU country, they will be required to provide the host country with the relevant insurance documentation and professional liability cover, evidence of qualifications and proof of nationality.
For every subsequent year they intend to stay, workers will have to re-submit their proof of insurance cover, although the other documentation, including proof of qualifications and nationality will not be required.
Once the agreement has been formally adopted it will be submitted to the European Parliament for a second reading.
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