COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS

of 6 May 1996

on the synergies between academic recognition and professional recognition of qualifications in the Community

(96/C 195/02)

In its communication of 13 December 1994 on the recognition of qualifications for academic and professional purposes, the Commission explained in detail the scope of Community competence in the field of recognition of diplomas and other educational qualifications. Because of the different legal bases and the specific objectives to be achieved, two complementary aspects of 'recognition` need to be taken into consideration:

- recognition of diplomas for professional purposes, which has been implemented at Community level by the adoption of Council Directives introducing systems for the recognition of the diplomas required to practise regulated professions within the European Union,

- recognition of qualifications (and periods of study) for academic ends, in particular for the purpose of studying in another Member State, which falls under the competence of the Member States and more specifically of higher education establishments, as a result of the autonomy under which they operate.

Community action in the second area involves, in accordance with the second indent of Article 126 (2) of the Treaty establishing the European Community, encouraging the academic recognition of diplomas and periods of study in order to foster student mobility at Community level.

The implementation of the Erasmus programme, now part of the new Socrates programme, has contributed significantly to the encouragement of academic recognition, especially as regards periods of study undertaken in another Member State within the context of interuniversity cooperation programmes. In addition, the introduction, on a voluntary basis of the ECTS (the European credit transfer system) and other types of credits should make for transparency in studies at higher-education level leading to improved academic recognition in the context of the mobility activities encouraged by the Socrates programme.

Despite the different mechanisms characterizing Community action in the two areas of recognition, the realization of the fundamental principles of freedom of movement and freedom of establishment within the European Union creates an expectation among Community nationals of being able to obtain the necessary information on the recognition of their qualifications in every Member State, whether for academic or for professional purposes.

The support for student mobility manifested on many occasions by the European Parliament and Council and the adoption of Community programmes such as Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci must give higher education, vocational training establishments and the competent authorities the incentive to accept and take into account periods of study undertaken and diplomas obtained in other Member States with confidence in the quality of vocational training and university standards in these Member States and by unreserved commitment to implementing the Community Directives on professional recognition of diplomas. Synergies should therefore be established, while respecting the universities' autonomy, so that there can be true coherence between the two areas of recognition for the benefit of citizens of Europe who wish to take advantage of mobility in their studies or in their professional lives.

These difficulties are much greater in the context of the 'non-regulated` professions not covered by Community Directives.

Moreover, the introduction in universities in certain Member States of curricula designed to take account of the requirements of the socio-economic system, does not always lead to the anticipated results on the employment market, because of particular rules and attitudes aimed at protecting traditional diplomas and professions.

THE COUNCIL

WELCOMES the outcome of the debate organized by the Commission in cooperation with the Member States, as well as the opinions of the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the other European and national organizations which have offered their views on the issue of recognition. It considers that this discussion is an ongoing process which has only just begun, and which requires the establishment of a permanent dialogue with all interested parties. It therefore asks the Commission to ensure that the report on the outcome of the debate is given wide distribution and to encourage further reflection on the subject;

EMPHASIZES that the dialogue between the competent authorities in the two areas of recognition must be integrated with the normal activities of existing national structures;

INVITES the Member States and the Commission to encourage improved coordination between the national structures concerned with disseminating information in the two areas of recognition, such as the Naric, the Euro-Info-centres etc., and to reinforce databases such as Ortelius, so as to promote greater transparency of higher-education systems;

INVITES higher-education establishments, professional organizations and other competent authorities to continue discussions so as to ensure that sufficient provision is made in curricula for the needs of the professions at European level;

INVITES the Commission:

- to encourage representatives of the economic and professional world, the social partners and students to participate in all appropriate 'thematic networks` set up under Socrates,

- to examine more specifically among the suggestions put forward in the course of the debate, in cooperation with the Member States,

- possibilities for the introduction on a voluntary basis of a European administrative annex to the diploma. This annex would consist of a description of the studies pursued by the holder of the diploma, the aim being to facilitate transparency and recognition of the studies in States other than that in which they were dispensed; it would take into account the experience that other organizations such as the Council of Europe and Unesco have had in this area,

- the desirability of identifying and giving wider publicity to procedures at national or Community level which might facilitate amicable settlement of disputes concerning recognition of qualifications, in response to individual requests sent directly or preferably through the Naric network or through the network of coordinators of the various Directives,

- to submit a report, by the end of 1998, to the European Parliament and the Council on progress achieved in this area and on the situation regarding the various initiatives taken at Community and national level.