WRITTEN QUESTION E-0717/02

by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission

(14 March 2002)

Subject: European Register for Clinical Chemists

The profession of clinical chemist is not covered by a specific European directive and comes under the general Directive 89/48/EEC(1), which regulates professions requiring at least three years' training. Clinical chemists' training lasts at least eight years, with at least four years at university. In an attempt to place clinical chemists in the EU Member States on an equal footing, in qualitative terms, the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry (EC4) has been set up in the meantime. Its register now contains more than 1 000 clinical chemists who must previously have been nationally registered, have undergone at least years eight years' training and accept the EC4 Code of Conduct.

1. Does the Commission agree that the EC4 initiative facilitates freedom of movement for workers along similar lines to the initiative by the European Federation of National Engineering Associations (FEANI) (see Written Question E-3429/93(2))?

2. To what extent can the EC4 title EurClinChem promote the mutual recognition of national diplomas by Member States?

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989, p. 16.

(2) OJ C 268, 26.9.1994, p. 38.

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(19 April 2002)

1. As it has stated on a number of occasions, the Commission believes that initiatives such as that taken by the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry (EC4), which is setting up a European register of clinical chemists who meet certain minimum training requirements (EurClinChem), can play an important role in the Member States' implementation of the general system Directives: 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).

2. The establishment of joint training standards which lead to the professionals concerned being awarded a European certificate/diploma or, as in this case, being entered into a professional register can facilitate their freedom of movement and help them exercise their right of establishment. These initiatives, which are more commonly known as joint platforms, can in fact reduce, or completely remove, any substantial differences between national training standards, differences which could otherwise entail compensation measures (such as adaptation periods or aptitude tests) as provided for by the Directives referred to above.

Nonetheless, whilst the Commission recognises the value of such initiatives in promoting the free movement of professionals within the internal market, it must be borne in mind that these are private initiatives which cannot replace national legislation. In this respect, the Commission would refer the Honourable Member to its answer to Written Question E-1786/97 by Mrs Oddy(2), which indicates the scope and importance that the Commission attaches to these joint platforms.

In the case of the EC4 European register of clinical chemists, the Commission would also note that the possibility which exists for professionals with basic training in other disciplines (chemistry, pharmacy, biology, medicine, etc.) to be included in the register is an additional advantage when it comes to promoting the freedom of establishment for these professionals.

The Commission would, furthermore, draw the Honourable Member's attention to its recent Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the recognition of professional qualifications(3) and, more specifically, to the ninth recital and Article 15. Whilst this provision is based on the principles of the current general system Directives, it seeks to involve professional organisations more systematically and to encourage the development of joint platforms such as that set up by the EC4 in order to make the recognition of professional qualifications within the Union more automatic.

(1) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992.

(2) OJ C 21, 22.1.1998.

(3) COM(2002) 119 final.