WRITTEN QUESTION P-1593/03

by Daniel Ducarme (ELDR) to the Commission

(5 May 2003)

Subject: Equivalence of advanced vocational qualifications in beauty care and cosmetics

The Commission of the European Communities issued a call for tenders for the promotion of initiatives in the field of mutual recognition of vocational qualifications in 1994. In the June of that year, the Union Nationale des esthéticiennes de Belgique (UNEB), along with its partners from the other Member States, submitted an application for a project entitled equivalence of advanced vocational qualifications in beauty care and cosmetics the aim of which was to guarantee the free movement of beauticians within the Community.

The application was successful, and an agreement was signed between the Commission (DG XXII) and the UNEB (Agreement No 94-20-SKR-0125-00).

A review meeting was held in November 1995 at which the partners adopted a common training programme. The final report was submitted in December 1995.

The UNEB has heard nothing since then.

Can the Commission indicate what progress has been made on this issue?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(3 June 2003)

In 1994 the Commission published a call for proposals(1) for the promotion of initiatives on the mutual recognition of vocational qualifications. Around 40 projects were selected, including that submitted by the Union nationale des esthéticiennes de Belgique (UNEB) and partners in several Member States, relating to the equivalence of advanced vocational qualifications in beauty care and cosmetics (agreement No 94-20-SKR-0125-00). All projects, including that submitted by the UNEB, were completed between 1994 and 1995.

Since 1995 the Commission has continued to support efforts to promote occupational mobility and the creation of a European area of qualifications, while respecting the Member States' responsibility for the organisation and content of their education and training systems. In particular, the Leonardo da Vinci programme has provided support for innovative action in this field through transnational partnerships.

In 1998 the Commission, Member States and social partners set up the European Forum on the transparency of professional qualifications, resulting in progress towards the joint development of instruments designed to increase the transparency of qualifications: the diploma supplement to make national qualifications more readable, a European CV model to help people set out their vocational and personal skills, and the network of national reference points on qualifications, providing information on national training and qualification systems.

The Council Resolution of 19 December 2002 on the promotion of enhanced European cooperation in vocational education and training(2) and the Copenhagen Declaration by the Education Ministers of the European Union and the Candidate Countries of 30 November 2002 have made it possible to advance towards the creation of a single framework for the transparency of skills and qualifications by combining the mentioned instruments in a single structure which is both easy to use and more visible.

In this connection, increased support will be given to the development of skills and qualifications at sectoral level by working closely with the social partners. As a part of this effort, the results of specific initiatives, such as the UNEB project referred to in the question, as well as the projects supported under Leonardo da Vinci since 1995, will be examined and used to develop common principles and reference points in each occupational sector. Increased transparency of existing training opportunities thanks to the above-mentioned Community instruments and the creation of joint training modules in the various sectors will certainly increase mobility within the Union for all occupations, including those in beauty care and cosmetics.

(1) OJ C 112, 22.4.1994.

(2) OJ C 13, 18.1.2003.