WRITTEN QUESTION No. 924/99 by Christa RANDZIO-PLATH European itinerant trade licence
Date: 1999-04-08
Institutions: European Parliament, RANDZIO-PLATH
Subjects: EU national, access to a profession, administrative formalities, freedom to provide services, itinerant trade, recognition of diplomas, right of establishment, single market













EUR-Lex - 91999E0924 - EN






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91999E0924

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 924/99 by Christa RANDZIO-PLATH European itinerant trade licence  


Official Journal C 348 , 03/12/1999 P. 0144 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0924/99by Christa Randzio-Plath (PSE) to the Commission(8 April 1999)Subject: European itinerant trade licenceThe Commission has still not done any preparatory work on introducing an itinerant trade licence, valid in all EU Member States, which would contribute towards completion of the Internal Market and facilitate cross-border trade. Why has the Commission rejected all efforts to introduce an itinerant trade licence, valid in all EU Member States? How can it reconcile this with the principle of freedom of movement?Answer by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission(5 May 1999)The Commission would like to inform the honourable Member that the Council Directive of 16 June 1975 on measures to facilitate the effective exercise of freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services in respect of itinerant activities and, in particular, transitional measures in respect of those activities (75/369/EEC)(1) stipulates that where a host Member State regulates such activities in respect of its own nationals it shall accept as sufficient evidence documents issued by the Member State of origin of nationals of other Member States.In particular, when the pursuit of such activities in a Member State is subject to the possession of specific knowledge, the effective pursuit of these activities for a certain period in another Member State must be recognised.The Commission has submitted a proposal(2) for a directive establishing a mechanism for the recognition of qualifications for the activities covered by the directives laying down transitional measures (such as Directive 75/369/EEC). The aim of this mechanism is to allow migrants to apply for the recognition of their diplomas, even if they lack the professional experience required to invoke the directive in force relevant to their activity.According to the Commission, Directive 75/369/EEC and the proposal referred to above are intended to eliminate the barriers to the freedom to provide services in the area of itinerant trade. The Commission therefore has no plans at the moment to put to the Member States any proposal for "harmonised" training or for a convergence of their respective systems governing access to the profession leading to the creation of a "European" licence or qualification.This kind of project may be carried out by the relevant authorities in the field in question. It goes without saying that the Commission is ready to consider any initiative and it has always encouraged the various professional sectors to advance along these lines inasmuch as they can help to facilitate the free movement of the members of the professions concerned.(1) OJ L 167, 30.6.1975.(2) OJ C 264, 30.8.1997.