WRITTEN QUESTION E-2133/98

by Reino Paasilinna (PSE) to the Commission

(10 July 1998)

Subject: European regulations in the field of psychology and psychotherapy

National legislation in the field of psychology and psychotherapy has developed rapidly in Europe during the 1990s. In more and more countries the professions of psychologist and psychotherapist are regulated, as regards both the exercise of the profession and the use of the name. Regulation and supervision are regarded as necessary to ensure the legal certainty of the consumer and the quality of the services provided. Psychologists and psychotherapists work in often very intimate areas of people's private lives and health.

The European Federation of Professional Psychologists' Associations (EFPPA) is this year (1998) launching an investigation into the possibilities of developing a sufficiently high-level European diploma in psychology. The EFPPA currently numbers the national psychologists' associations of 33 European countries among its members.

The Commission's internal market directorate, DG XV, has also investigated the position of psychologists and psychotherapists in Europe. The results of this investigation have been published in report XV/E/9926/95 - EN.

Rumours or information have been circulating in the professional field about plans for regulation at EU level, for example in the field of psychotherapy. If such plans exist, the preparation work should be carried on openly together with the national social and health authorities and the EFPPA.

In the interest both of national decision-making and of the activities of the European psychologists' associations as a whole, I should like an answer to this very important question: Is the Commission preparing any studies or regulations in the area of psychology or psychotherapy?

Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission

(2 October 1998)

The Commission would inform the Honourable Member that it has no plans to present proposals for specific regulations concerning the professions of psychologist and psychotherapist and that it is not carrying out any preparatory work or studies in those areas.

In accordance with the approach pursued by 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(1) and by 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(2), each Member State is free to regulate, or not to regulate, a given profession and to decide on the level and content of training required of would-be practitioners. The Directives are designed merely to create a legal framework for the free movement of members of the regulated professions within the European Economic Area and the internal market, and it goes without saying that they apply to the professions of psychologist and psychotherapist in so far as they are regulated in the host Member State. Since the adoption of the aforementioned Directives, the Commission has followed an extremely restrictive approach as regards rules that are specific to a particular profession: the Honourable Member is referred to the answer given to Written Question E-4094/93 by Mr Chiabrando and Mr Pisoni(3). With regard to the possibility of introducing a European diploma in psychology, which is currently being investigated by the European Federation of Professional Psychologists' Associations (EFPPA), the Commission takes the view, as it has stated on numerous occasions, that such initiatives taken by European professional associations can play an important role in Member States' implementation of the "general system" Directives. It would here refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to Written Question E-3429/93 by Mr Rovsing(4) and, more specifically, to that given to Written Question E-1786/97 by Mrs Oddy(5), which provides an indication of the scope and importance that the Commission attaches to these initiatives, more widely known as "joint platforms".

The Commission would also point out that document XV/E/9926/95, to which the Honourable Member refers in his question, is not a study but merely a compendium of Member States' replies to a Commission questionnaire on the situation of psychologists and psychotherapists in the Community. The questionnaire was intended for the group of coordinators which helps the Commission to administer the "general system" Directives and was designed for information purposes only.

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989.

(2) OJ L 209, 24.7.1992.

(3) OJ C 332, 28.11.1994.

(4) OJ C 268, 26.9.1994.

(5) OJ C 21, 22.1.1998.