2007/172/EC: Commission Decision of 19 March 2007 setting up the group of coordinators for the recognition of professional qualifications
Date: 2007-03-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: consultancy, free movement of workers, recognition of vocational training qualifications

L 79/38

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

20.3.2007

COMMISSION DECISION

of 19 March 2007

setting up the group of coordinators for the recognition of professional qualifications

(2007/172/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Whereas:

implies

the Treaty assigned the European
Article 3(1)(c) of
Community and the Member States the task of abol-
ishing obstacles to the free movement of persons and
services. For the nationals of the Member States, free
the possibility to
in particular
movement
pursue a profession, either as a self-employed person
or as an employee,
in a Member State other than the
one in which they have obtained their professional quali-
the Treaty aims at
fications. Moreover, Article 47 of
fully qualified pro-
ensuring the free movement of
fessionals in the field of professions regulated as to quali-
fications.

Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of
professional qualifications (1) was adopted to ensure the
free movement of fully qualified professionals where the
access to a profession is regulated as to qualifications by
Member States. That Directive consolidates 15 existing
Directives and aims at simplifying the existing regimes
of
facilitating the
temporary provision of services. In order to implement
this Directive and to develop the internal market where
the professions are regulated as to qualifications,
the
Commission may need to call upon the expertise of
specialists in an advisory body.

recognition as well as at

further

Directive, the remit of those coordinators is to promote a
uniform application of the said Directive and to collect
all the information which is relevant for its application.

(6)

(7)

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the
group should be provided for without prejudice to the
Commission's rules on security as set out in the Annex
to
ECSC,
Euratom (2).

2001/844/EC,

Commission

Decision

Personal data relating to members of the group should
be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No
45/2001 of
the
the European Parliament
Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of
individuals with regard to the processing of personal
data by the Community institutions and bodies and on
the free movement of such data (3),

and of

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Group of coordinators for the recognition of professional
qualifications

The group of coordinators for the recognition of professional
qualifications, hereinafter ‘the Group’, is set up with effect from
the date of publication in the Official
Journal of the European
Union of this decision.

Article 2

Tasks

The Group's tasks are the following:

It is therefore appropriate to set up an expert group in
the field of recognition of professional qualifications and
to define its tasks and its structure.

(a)

to establish cooperation between Member States' authorities
and the Commission on questions relating to the recog-
nition of professional qualifications;

The expert group should help to develop the internal
market in the field of professions regulated as to qualifi-
cations.

(b) to monitor the evolution of policies having an impact on

professions regulated as to qualifications;

The group of coordinators for the recognition of pro-
the
fessional qualifications
national coordinators designated by the Member States
to Directive 2005/36/EC. According to that
pursuant

should be composed of

(c)

to facilitate the implementation of Directive 2005/36/EC, in
particular through the elaboration of documents of interest,
such as interpreting guidelines;

(1) OJ L 255 of 30.9.2005, p. 22. Directive as amended by Council

2006/548/EC, Euratom (OJ L 215, 5.8.2006, p. 38).

Directive 2006/100/EC (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 141).

(3) OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 317, 3.12.2001, p. 1. Decision as last amended by Decision

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

20.3.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 79/39

(d) to bring about an exchange of experience and good practice

in the fields referred to in the previous points.

Article 3

Consultation

The Commission may consult the Group on any matter relating
to the implementation of Directive 2005/36/EC as well as, in a
general manner, matters relating to the development of the
internal market in the field of the professions regulated as to
qualifications.

Article 4

Composition — Appointment

The members of

1.
the Group shall be the coordinators
designated by the Member States in accordance with Article
56(4) of Directive 2005/36/EC.

Alternate members for the members of the Group are appointed
by Member States in equal numbers. Alternate members auto-
matically replace members who are absent.

2. Members and alternates of
office until such time as they are replaced.

the Group shall remain in

3.
The names of the members shall be collected, processed
and published in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001.

Article 5

Operation

1.

The Group shall be chaired by the Commission.

2.
The Group may, with the agreement of the Commission,
set up sub-groups to examine specific questions under terms of
reference established by the Group. Such sub-groups shall be
dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled.

The Commission's

3.
representative may ask experts or
observers with specific competence on a subject on the
agenda to participate in the work of the Group or in the delib-
erations or work of a sub-group if,
the
Commission, this is necessary or useful.

in the opinion of

representatives of

the
In particular,
European Economic Area and of Switzerland may be invited
as observers.

the Member States of

Information obtained by participating in the deliberations
4.
or work of the Group or sub-group shall not be divulged if, in
the opinion of the Commission, that information relates to
confidential matters.

The Group and its sub-groups shall normally meet on
5.
Commission premises in accordance with the procedures and
schedule established by it. The Commission shall provide sec-
retarial services.

Commission officials with an interest in the proceedings may
attend meetings of the Group and its sub-groups.

6.
The Group shall adopt its rules of procedure on the basis
of the standard rules of procedure adopted by the Commission.

The Commission may publish, or place on the Internet, in
any
conclusion or working

conclusion, or partial

7.
the original
summary,
document of the Group.

the document

language of

concerned,

Article 6

Reimbursement of expenses

The Commission shall reimburse travel expenses limited to one
member or alternate per Member State in connection with the
Group's activities in accordance with the Commission's rules on
the compensation of external experts.

The members/alternates, experts and observers shall not be
remunerated for the services they render.

Meeting expenses shall be reimbursed within the limits of the
annual budget allocated to the Group by the competent
Commission department.

Done at Brussels, 19 March 2007.

For the Commission

Charlie McCREEVY
Member of the Commission