sou · H2B319 · 2014-04-10 00:00:00 — ing framework, or has passed a common training test, is to be au- tomatically approved to practise the profession in under the same conditions as apply if the qualifications had been obtained in . The only automatic system that is currently applicable means that professionals in the professions of pharmacist, midwife, doctor, nurse, dentist or veterinary surgeon are to be automatically recognised in the cases specified in the regulations of or . The Patient and the Animal Healthcare Ordinance will state that licence applications based on the provisions of automatic recognition are to be processed under the procedural provisions of the new horizontal Ordinance. The new horizontal Ordinance contains provisions that describe the procedure for recognising professional qualifications when professionals establish themselves in , regardless of the recognition system applied. The examination of an application for a licence or other evidence of formal qualifications will be divided into two or three steps when the professional has acquired profes- sional qualifications or had them recognised in another . The intention is to make it clear that the scrutiny of profes- sional qualifications will take place separately from any other re- quirements for practising the profession, e.g. language require- ments. A new procedure will be introduced for the examination of professional qualifications that will form the basis for certification or accreditation, to the extent that such a regulatory technique is used for certain professional activities. The first step will only ex- amine whether the professional qualifications are sufficient to be able to grant access to the profession. This examination is to be made in accordance with the procedural provisions of the new Ordinance, inter alia, with respect to deadlines, and concludes with a decision on professional qualifications. An application must be sent in to the competent authority or submitted electronically via the point of single contact. The new Act and Ordinance introduce provisions that will make it possible to issue once the Commission has made the necessary decisions, inter alia, with respect to the professions for which will be issued. Regulatory authorities will be empowered to issue more detailed regulations to the extent necessary for the system to become operational. The new Act contains explicit powers that allow the Govern- ment or the authority appointed by the Government to issue regu- lations concerning the temporary provision of services, the recog- nition of professional qualifications, and language checks for healthcare personnel. The new Ordi- nance empowers regulatory authorities to issue implementing reg- ulations and regulations on exemptions from the right to choose compensation measure. tion is empowered to issue regulations on regarding unregulated professions in , common training principles and the issuing of diplomas. for Higher Vocational Education is empowered to issue regulations on the automatic recognition of professional experience. is empowered to issue regulations on the exchange of information via . A new provision is introduced in the Public Access to Infor- mation and Secrecy Act to the effect that secrecy shall apply for information concerning a private partys financial or personal cir- cumstances relating to a matter under the horizontal Act on pro- fessional qualifications, if it can be assumed that disclosure of the information would cause damage or harm to the private party. Decisions under the new Act and Ordinance may be appealed to an administrative court. If the authority has not made a decision within the time limit specified for the case in question, the appli- cant may lodge a request with the authority for the matter to be decided. The authority must then make a decision within two weeks on the substance of the case or reject the applicant's request in a specific decision. Administrative cooperation and information If the recognition system under the Directive is to function, com- petent authorities will need to cooperate over national borders. The amending Directive now states explicitly that the authorities will use the () for communi- cation among themselves. The Inquiry proposes that the obligation to cooperate with competent authorities and assistance centres in other countries be regulated in the new Ordinance. will, as far as possible, assist com- petent authorities and assistance centres in other countries with information concerning professions that are not regulated in Swe- den. The exchange of information on disciplinary action is regulated in the original Professional Qualifications Directive. The Inquiry proposes that the new Ordinance state that the competent author- ities are responsible for exchanging information on disciplinary action with competent authorities in other countries. They will also be obliged to verify information coming from an authority in an- other country regarding professionals with Swedish professional qualifications and provide notification of the measures taken in light of such information. The amending Directive introduces two new alert mechanisms; one concerning falsified documents and one concerning profes- sionals who have been restricted in their right to practice regulated healthcare professions, regulated professions involving the teaching of children (including childcare and early childhood education) or as a veterinary surgeon. The Commission will decide how the alert mechanisms will function before these can become operational, and may also govern how the flow of information is to be handled in the Member States. Pending more detailed information from the Commission, the Inquiry proposes a structure for administration of the alert mechanisms nationally. In order to comply with the Directive's requirement that all Member States be alerted within three days of the decision to restrict the right to practise, the In- quiry proposes that these alerts be sent by the Responsi- bility Board, the Teachers' and . All alerts received from other coun- tries will arrive with , which will then disseminate the information to the relevant au- thorities in . With regard to the alert mechanism for falsi- fied certificates, the Inquiry proposes that this should be adminis- tered by . Competent authorities that file a report concerning an individual who has used falsified certificates in connection with the recognition of professional qualifications must inform . will also receive alerts about falsi- fied documents from other countries and forward this information to the relevant authorities in . The point of single contact for services, established in conjunc- tion with the implementation of the Services Directive, will be used to provide information about regulated professions and regulated education and training. In order for the for Eco- nomic and Regional Growth (), which is responsible for the contact point, to discharge the obligations imposed by the modernised Professional Qualifications Directive, the competent authorities are to provide that agency with the necessary infor- mation and keep it updated. Responsibility for providing with information on regulated education and train- ing will be divided between the for Edu- cation, with regard to upper secondary schools, the Swedish Coun- cil for Higher Education, with regard to universities and university colleges, and the for Higher Vocational Education, with regard to vocational colleges. As is already cur- rently the case with respect to the Services Directive, will also ensure that all the requirements, procedures and formali- ties covered by the modernised Professional Qualifications Di- rective can be completed electronically and remotely via the con- tact point for services. The Ordinance will state that all infor- mation should also be available in English. will continue to retain its role as coordinator for the contact point. Measures to support professionals with Swedish professional qualifications To ensure that Swedish study programmes live up to the minimum requirements of the modernised Professional Qualifications Directive, the Inquiry proposes the introduction of a clarification in the Annexes to the Higher Education Ordinance and the Ordinance for Sciences to the effect that education providers should design the programmes to comply with the Directive's requirements. To support the work of education providers, should compile the requirements resulting from the modernised Professional Qualifications Directive and also monitor and provide information on such updates regarding knowledge and skills as may be adopted by the Commission through delegated acts. The modernised Professional Qualifications Directive namely grants the Commission power in several respects to make binding decisions through both implementing acts and delegated acts. Since the very intent of delegated decision-making is the uniform implementation of Union law, it is likely that the Commission intends to make these decisions in the form of regulations. These are not implemented by the Member States, but apply directly. In order to ensure that those practising professions covered by automatic recognition on the basis of coordinated minimum train- ing requirements, i.e. pharmacists, midwives, doctors, nurses, den- tists and veterinary surgeons, will be able to undertake continuous professional development, the Inquiry proposes that and be empowered to issue regulations on continuous professional development. In other countries, Swedish professionals can be met with re- quirements to attach various documents as evidence of their quali- fications or education. In light of the fact that individuals should turn to the Swedish assistance centre if they have problems, the Inquiry believes that all certification of Swedish education and training, whether or not this is regulated, should be conducted by . for Higher Vocational Education's duty in this regard will therefore be discontinued. However, as regards the certification of professional experience, the Inquiry sees no reason to transfer this activity from the authorised chambers of commerce. Reporting obligations and measures to increase knowledge about the Directive The modernised Professional Qualifications Directive places re- quirements on Member States' reporting and continuous provision of information in a number of respects. To ensure that requested information is sent to the Commission in accordance with the Di- rective's requirements, but also to strengthen the role of the assis- tance centre and coordinator, the Inquiry proposes that all regular information requirements be discharged by . To make this effective, the Ordinance will oblige competent authorities to supply with requested information. In connection with the reporting of implementing measures to the Commission, the Commission will also be provided with in- formation about how ensures that professionals such as pharmacists, midwives, doctors, nurses, dentists and veterinary surgeons have the opportunity to undertake continuous profes- sional development. The Commission's database on regulated pro- fessions must also be updated by this time, at the very latest. In order to improve knowledge about the regulatory framework and offer competent authorities a platform to exchange their expe- riences, the Inquiry proposes the of a . The new Ordinance will state that the chair and secretariat should be established at the assistance centre and coordinator, i.e. All competent authorities and should be part of the Council. Part III Impact Assessment The Inquiry's proposals affect individual professionals wishing to pursue activities in both and other countries and regardless of whether this takes place in the course of employment or self- employment for a shorter or longer period. For the most part, the areas of activity are already covered by the professional regulation found in sectoral statutes. As the Inquiry has identified additional professional activities that should be considered regulated professions, professionals with foreign qualifications who are part of these professional groups are affected by the Inquiry's proposals. In certain areas of activity, amendments to the Education Act, the Patient and the Ordinance on Qualification Require- ments for in Healthcare clarify the right to conduct activities on a temporary basis with reference to qualifications ac- quired in their country of . For other professional groups, estate agents and animal healthcare professionals, the In- quiry proposes the removal of the current requirement to make an advance declaration to the competent authority. However, advance declaration requirements remain for individuals in healthcare pro- fessions and for security guards, whose qualifications can also be checked in advance. The right of professionals, where applicable, to choose compen- sation measure is clarified, as is the extent to which language skills may be checked. The Inquiry believes that competent authorities must prospectively identify the requirements that are fundamental to the practise of professional activities in so that individu- als may inform themselves about this in advance. believes it should be clear what is required in terms of certificates for an application to be complete. Competent authorities are al- ready entitled to demand a fee for applications for recognition of foreign professional qualifications to obtain a licence or other evi- dence of formal qualifications. Individuals' opportunity to protect their own interests in the course of the recognition process is made clear, inter alia, with regard to the right to appeal. Businesses in the form of self-employed persons are affected in the same way as individuals by the clarifications proposed by the Inquiry. No specific adverse consequences should arise for businesses. The proposals will help to facilitate the availability of relevant labour by recognising expertise acquired in another EU country as equivalent to that which is acquired in . efficient processing, inter alia, in the context of , should contribute to smoother recruitment processes for employers. It should be noted that the competent authorities in are not always in control of processing times because some exchange of information with competent authorities in other countries may be required in certain cases. Companies that operate as education providers in the field of healthcare or that offer training for veterinary surgeons or architects may be affected by the clarifications proposed by the Inquiry; these clarifications mean that education or training coordinated through the Professional Qualifications Directive must also meet the Directive's requirements. As regards implications for the public sector, it must first be established that competent authorities are already applying the regulatory framework in accordance with the applicable sectoral statutes. The fact that the regulations are collected together in an overarching, horizontal regulatory framework does not affect the authorities' hitherto existing obligations to recognise foreign pro- fessional qualifications. However, this does not apply to those au- thorities that the Inquiry believes should be appointed as additional competent authorities in light of the fact that certain professional activities may be considered to be regulated. The Inquiry has not been able to identify how many of those currently practising in these professional groups have foreign qualifications; it is thus difficult to assess the extent of the authorities' additional assessment activities. There may be reason to monitor developments in this area and if it becomes clear that the assessment activity cannot be handled with the current funding, it should be considered if fees should be introduced for some of the additional professions. For the majority of existing competent authorities, there is an opportunity to use fees to finance applications for recognition of foreign professional qualifications. Only one existing competent authority has in some cases been prevented from charging fees for the assessment of foreign professional qualifications, namely . The Inquiry can see no reason for this and proposes that also should be permitted to demand a fee for issuing a licence or other evidence of formal qualifications to individuals with both Swedish and foreign professional qualifications. The Inquiry proposes that the competent authorities should compensate for the costs it incurs when issuing a statement regarding foreign profes- sional qualifications related to education and training. However, at an initial stage, will need to establish these operations using public funds. The Inquiry also proposes public funding for the increased ad- ministration that the alert system may entail for the Re- sponsibility Board and for the for Economic and Regional Growth with reference to the additional tasks relating to the point of single contact for services. should also receive increased appropriation funding in light of the permanent addition of tasks through its role as coordinator and its serving as secretariat for . It is not possible to foresee the consequences that may arise if the Commission decides to introduce system, or if the Commission decides on common principles for education and training. Depending on which professionals such decisions end up encompassing, a new analysis may be required. lag om erkännande av yrkeskvalifikationer Härigenom föreskrivs1 följande. 1 § Genom denna lag genomförs vissa bestämmelser i parlamentets och rådets direktiv /36/EG av om erkännande av yrkeskvalifikationer (yrkeskvalifikations- direktivet), i lydelsen enligt och rådets direktiv /55/EU. 2 § Denna lag gäller för dem som vill utöva ett reglerat yrke i , som anställd eller som egen företagare, och som har för- värvat yrkeskvalifikationer eller fått dem erkända i en annan stat inom EES eller i (ursprungsstaten). I tillämpliga delar gäller denna lag även för dem som 1.har gjort yrkespraktik i en annan stat inom EES eller i , eller 2.har förvärvat yrkeskvalifikationer i eller fått dem erkända här i landet och vill utöva sitt yrke i någon annan stat inom EES eller i . 3 § Ett erkännande av yrkeskvalifikationer enligt denna lag eller innehav av ett giltigt europeiskt yrkeskort ger yrkesutövaren rätt till tillträde till samma yrke eller den jämförbara yrkesverksamhet som denne är behörig att utöva i ursprungsstaten och rätt att utöva 1 Jfr och rådets direktiv /36/EG av om erkännande av yrkeskvalifikationer, i lydelsen enligt och rådets direktiv /55/EU. det yrket eller den verksamheten i , på samma villkor som om yrkesutövaren hade förvärvat sina yrkeskvalifikationer här i landet. 4 § Denna lag gäller inte för yrken som är förenade med offentlig maktutövning. Denna lag gäller inte heller för advokatyrket. Bestämmelser som i fråga om detta yrke genomför yrkeskvalifikationsdirektivet i tillämpliga delar finns i . 5 § Denna lag gäller inte om det i en annan lag eller förordning finns avvikande bestämmelser om erkännande av yrkeskvalifika- tioner som har förvärvats utanför , i den mån dessa bestäm- melser grundar sig på andra bindande rättsakter antagna inom Europeiska unionen än yrkeskvalifikationsdirektivet. 6 § I denna lag avses med 1.reglerat yrke: yrkesverksamhet där det genom lag, förordning eller andra föreskrifter, direkt eller indirekt, krävs bestämda yrkes- kvalifikationer för att få tillträde till eller utöva verksamheten eller använda en viss yrkestitel, 2.lagligen etablerad: uppfyller alla krav för att ha rätt att stadig- varande utöva ett yrke, som egenföretagare eller som anställd, i en stat inom EES eller i , 3.yrkeskvalifikationer: kvalifikationer som intygas i ett bevis på formella kvalifikationer, ett kompetensbevis enligt artikel 11 punkt a i) i yrkeskvalifikationsdirektivet eller yrkeserfarenhet, 4.bevis på formella kvalifikationer: examens-, utbildnings- eller annat behörighetsbevis som har utfärdats av en behörig myndighet avseende en yrkesutbildning som huvudsakligen har ägt rum inom EES eller i . Som bevis på formella kvalifikationer ska också betraktas ett bevis på formella kvalifikationer som har utfärdats i tredjeland, om innehavaren har yrkeserfarenhet inom det berörda yrket i en stat inom EES eller i och beviset på formella kvalifikationer har erkänts av den staten, 5.reglerad utbildning: all utbildning som särskilt utformats för ett visst yrke och som omfattar en eller flera kurser som vid behov kompletteras genom sådan yrkesutbildning, provtjänstgöring eller yrkesutövning som har fastställts i författning eller som övervakas eller har godkänts av en myndighet, 6.anpassningsperiod: utövande av ett reglerat yrke under en behörig yrkesutövares ansvar och som ska bedömas, eventuellt åtföljt av kompletterande utbildning, 7.lämplighetsprov: ett prov som gäller den sökandes yrkeskun- nighet, färdigheter och kompetens och som genomförs av en behö- rig myndighet i syfte att bedöma den sökandes förmåga att utöva ett reglerat yrke, 8.yrkespraktik: en period med yrkespraktik som sker under handledning, förutsatt att den utgör ett villkor för tillträde till ett reglerat yrke, och som kan äga rum under eller efter en avslutad utbildning som leder till ett examensbevis, 9.yrkeserfarenhet: faktiskt och lagligt utövande av det berörda yrket i en medlemsstat, 10.europeiskt yrkeskort: ett elektroniskt bevis för antingen att yrkesutövaren uppfyller alla nödvändiga villkor för att tillfälligt tillhandahålla tjänster i en stat inom EES eller i eller erkännandet av yrkesutövarens yrkeskvalifikationer för etablering i en sådan stat, och 11.livslångt lärande: all allmän utbildning, yrkesutbildning, icke- formell utbildning och informellt lärande som sker genom livet och leder till ökade kunskaper och färdigheter och ökad kompetens. 7 § Om det för tillträde till ett reglerat yrke krävs att yrkesutövaren har gjort viss yrkespraktik, ska sådan praktik som gjorts i en annan stat inom EES eller i godtas, under de förutsättningar som särskilt föreskrivs. Tillfälligt tillhandahållande av tjänster 8 § En yrkesutövare som avses i 2 § första stycket har rätt att till- fälligt utöva sitt yrke i , om yrkesutövaren är lagligen etable- rad i en stat inom EES eller i för att där utöva samma yrke (etableringsstaten). Om yrket inte är reglerat i etableringsstaten krävs att yrkes- utövaren har utövat yrket under i en eller flera stater inom EES eller i som föregår tillhanda- hållandet av tjänsten i . Kravet på yrkeserfarenhet i andra stycket gäller inte om utbild- ningen för yrket är reglerad i etableringsstaten. 9 § Regeringen eller den myndighet som regeringen bestämmer får meddela ytterligare föreskrifter om förutsättningarna för tillfälligt tillhandahållande av tjänster, inklusive krav på förhandsunder- rättelse och förhandskontroll i enlighet med artikel 7 i yrkeskvalifi- kationsdirektivet. 10 § En yrkesutövare som avses i 2 § första stycket som tillfälligt tillhandahåller tjänster i står under samma tillsyn som andra utövare av yrket här i landet. En sådan yrkesutövare kan även bli föremål för samma disciplinära åtgärder avseende yrkesutövningen som andra utövare av yrket här i landet. 11 § Bestämmelserna i 12 och 13 §§ gäller för alla reglerade yrken som inte omfattas av automatiskt erkännande enligt 14, 16 eller 17 § samt för de yrkesutövare som inte uppfyller de villkor för automatiskt erkännande som anges i de föreskrifter som avses i 16– 20 §. 12 § En yrkesutövare som avses i 2 § första stycket har rätt att få tillträde till ett reglerat yrke och rätt att utöva det i , på samma villkor som gäller för dem som har förvärvat sina yrkes- kvalifikationer i , om yrkesutövaren innehar det kompe- tensbevis eller bevis på formella kvalifikationer som krävs av en annan stat inom EES eller i för tillträdet till eller utövandet av yrket inom dess territorium.