WRITTEN QUESTION E-0717/02 by Jules Maaten (ELDR) to the Commission. European Register for Clinical Chemists.
Date: 2002-03-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European Union, European organisation, chemistry, code of conduct, equivalence of diplomas, free movement of workers, professional association, recognition of diplomas, scientific profession, vocational training

6.2.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 28 E/49

under this Regulation, as this was the appropriate forum for discussion. The mandatory recovery and
destruction of controlled substances from both the coolant circuit and from the insulating foam of
domestic refrigerators and freezers was also discussed in a separate meeting with the United Kingdom. The
United Kingdom was first informed that it was practical to recover chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from both
the cooling system and foam in used refrigerators at the first meeting of the Management Committee
under the new Regulation on 4 October 2000, just four days after the Regulation came into force.

The Commission has neither the legal competence to give the United Kingdom a unilateral temporary
derogation from the provisions under Article 16 of the Regulation on recovery of controlled substances
nor does it believe that it is necessary since the United Kingdom is presently fully in compliance with the
Regulation. According to information provided to the Commission, the United Kingdom is currently
storing domestic refrigerators and freezers until commercial facilities are in place for recovering ODS from
such equipment. The Commission understands the first recovery facilities are coming on stream by the
middle of 2002.

As regards the application of other environmental legislation, the Commission, in terms of its general duty
under Article 211 of the EC Treaty, continually liases with all Member States to ensure full compliance
with both new and existing Community legislation.

(1) OJ L 244, 29.9.2000.
(2) OJ C 172 E, 18.7.2002, p. 121.
(3) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 67.
(4) OJ C 172 E, 18.7.2002, p. 168.
(5) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 168.
(6) OJ C 205 E, 29.8.2002, p. 113.

(2003/C 28 E/053)

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
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.

footing,

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

To what extent can the EC4 title EurClinChem promote the mutual recognition of national diplomas

2.
by Member States?

(1) OJ L 19, 24.1.1989, p. 16.
(2) OJ C 268, 26.9.1994, p. 38.

C 28 E/50

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

6.2.2003

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
training standards, differences which could otherwise entail
substantial differences between national
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 European Parliament and of

The Commission would, furthermore, draw the Honourable Member’s attention to its recent ‘Proposal for a
Directive 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’ (cid:1) such as that set up by the
EC4 (cid:1) 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.

(2003/C 28 E/054)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0730/02

by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(14 March 2002)

Subject: Year of the Mountain (cid:1) the Dolomites as a world heritage site

The UN General Assembly has declared 2002 the International Year of the Mountain. Would this not be a
good year to have the Alps recognised as a world heritage site?