Council Conclusions of 6 May 1996 on the synergies between academic recognition and professional recognition of qualifications in the Community
Date: 1996-05-06
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU programme, dissemination of information, recognition of diplomas, recognition of studies, student mobility













EUR-Lex - 31996Y0706(02) - EN






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31996Y0706(02)

Council Conclusions of 6 May 1996 on the synergies between academic recognition and professional recognition of qualifications in the Community  


Official Journal C 195 , 06/07/1996 P. 0006 - 0007 





COUNCIL  CONCLUSIONSof 6 May 1996on 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 COUNCILWELCOMES 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.