COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of certain new elements introduced by Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System ('the IMI Regulation')
Date: 2020-05-11
Institutions: Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
Subjects: administrative cooperation, free movement of workers, freedom to provide services, information system, national implementing measure, professional qualifications, recognition of diplomas, recognition of vocational training qualifications, right of establishment, single market

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 11.5.2020  SWD(2020) 79 final  COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the document Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the implementation of certain new elements introduced by Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System ('the IMI Regulation')   {COM(2020) 191 final}  
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Part I. Implementation plan (2014)........................................................................................... 2 

Part II. Transposition of amending Directive 2013/55/EU in the Member States ................... 8 

Part  III.  Key  issues  raised  in  the  infringement  procedures  concerning  non-conformity  of 
national  provisions  and  practice  with  Directive  2005/36/EC  as  amended  by  Directive 
2013/55/EU .............................................................................................................................. 11 

Part IV. Statistics on the use of the Internal Market Information system .............................. 21 

1. 

2. 

3. 

Administrative cooperation ....................................................................................... 21 

Notification of new qualifications (Annex V)........................................................... 23 

European Professional Card and Alert mechanism ................................................... 25 

3.1 European Professional Card ..................................................................................... 26 

3.2 Alert mechanism ....................................................................................................... 29 

Part V. Results of the special upgrading programme for Romanian nurses ........................... 31 

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part I. Implementation plan (2014) 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Directorate General Internal Market and Services 

Ares: markt.ddg1.e.4(2014)3654926 

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN  

FOR 

DIRECTIVE 2013/55/EU AMENDING DIRECTIVE 2005/36/EC ON THE RECOGNITION OF 
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND REGULATION (EU) NO 1024/2012 ON 
ADMINISTRATIVE COOPERATION THROUGH THE INTERNAL MARKET INFORMATION 
SYSTEM (‘THE IMI REGULATION’)1 

1 This Implementation Plan is provided for information purposes only. It does not legally bind the Commission on whether 
the identified actions will be pursued or on the form in which they will be pursued. 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
1.  Implementation  Plan  for  Directive  2013/55/EU  amending  Directive  2005/36/EC  on  the 
recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative 
cooperation through the Internal Market Information System (‘the IMI Regulation’) 

2. Contact point 

[redacted] 
Directorate General Internal Market and Services 
Free Movement of Professionals (Unite E4) 
Tel. : [redacted] 
Email: [redacted] 
Webpage : http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/qualifications/ 

3. Deliverables and implementation challenges 

Directive 2013/55/EU2 amending the Professional Qualifications Directive3 entered into force on 17 
January 2014. Pursuant Article 3 of the amending Directive, Member States have to bring into force 
the  laws,  regulations  and  administrative  provisions  necessary  to  comply  with  the  Directive  by  18 
January 2016. 

The  amending  Directive  modifies  a  number  of  the  current  rules  regarding  the  recognition  of 
professional qualifications but, at the same time, it also provides for new mechanisms and rules. The 
most important elements of the amending Directive are the following: 

the introduction of European Professional Card, aimed at facilitating recognition procedures 
for the interested professions; 

the use of the Points of Single Contact (set up under the Services Directive) and of electronic 
procedures for the recognition of qualifications; 

the changes to the rules applying to the general system (classification of education levels, use 
of compensation measures) and temporary mobility; 

the  introduction  of  the  principle  of  partial  access  to  a  profession  (access  limited  to  some 
activities of a profession in another Member State), on the basis of the ECJ case law;  

the  application  of  the  Directive  to  "partially  qualified  professionals"  willing  to  carry  out  a 
traineeship in another Member State;  

the update of the harmonised minimum training requirements for professions benefiting from 
automatic  recognition  (in  particular  for  doctors,  nurses,  midwives,  veterinary  surgeons  and 
architects);  

2 OJ L354, p. 132, 28.12.2013 

3 The consolidated version of the Professional Qualifications Directive is available at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-
content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02005L0036-20140117 

4 

 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
                                                           
   Member  States’  actions  in  the  area  of  continuous  professional  development  for  the  sectoral 

professions, in particular health professionals; 

the possibility to set up "common training frameworks" or "common training tests", allowing 
new professions  to benefit from automatic recognition; 

the introduction of an alert mechanism allowing a quick exchange of information on sanctions 
(suspension or temporary/definitive interdiction to practice) imposed on health professionals 
and professionals in the education sector; 

the  clarification  of  the  rules  applying  to  the  control  of  language  knowledge  for  migrating 
professionals; 

the transformation of the national contact points into assistant centres. 

Some  of  these  changes  or  new  rules  require  not  only  a  legislative  transposition  but  also 
implementation  by  national  bodies  (ex.  schools  and  universities  in  case  of  the  minimum  training 
requirements), the  designation (ex. of competent  authorities  dealing  with  the  European  Professional 
Card) or transformation of certain administrative bodies (ex. national contact points) or the adaptation 
of electronic tools (extension of the scope of the Points of Single Contact). 

Depending  on  the  structure  of  the  national  administration  and  legal  order,  the  transposition  of  the 
Directive  might  be  a  complex  exercise.  The  Directive  applies  indeed  to  hundreds  of  different 
professions  regulated  at  national,  regional  or  local  level.  In  some  Member  States  a  considerable 
number  of  laws,  regulations  and  administrative  provisions  have  to  be  amended,  possibly  involving 
public consultations and impact assessments. Previous experience with the transposition of the 2005 
Directive illustrates these difficulties: at that time, the overwhelming majority of the Member States 
failed to meet the transposition deadline. 

The  practical  implementation  of  the  new  rules  requires  also  careful  planning:  in  some  cases, 
competent authorities and other bodies have to be designated in a way to allow the treatment of the 
recognition requests with respect to the procedures and deadlines foreseen by the Directive; they have 
to be endowed with sufficient financial and human resources, and public servants have to be trained in 
the  new  procedures  and  the  use  of  the  new  instruments.  In  order  to  prepare  the  introduction  of  the 
EPC,  Member  States  will  have  to  register  the  competent  authorities  in  IMI  and  notify  to  the 
Commission information about the fees and payment modalities applied for the EPC. 

4. Support actions 

a) The Commission will support the transposition of the Directive into national law by: 

Support action 

Timing 

Organisation  of  regular  transposition 
workshops with Member States in order 
to  discuss  the  Directive  and  reach  a 
common 
the 
understanding 
provisions  to  be  transposed  and,  in  a 
second  step,  to  discuss  the  national 
choices regarding the implementation 

of 

January – March 2014 

Second 
on a demand led basis 

half 

of 

2014 

onwards 

5 

 
 
  
  
  
  
 
Organising  bilateral  meetings  with 
Member  States  to  discuss  particular 
transposition  issues  and  best  practice 
examples 

Organisation  of  the  mutual  evaluation 
exercise,  including  a  European  map  of 
regular 
regulated  professions  and 
the 
meetings 
in  order 
proportionality  and 
for 
regulating  specific  professions,  as  well 
as for sharing best practices 

to  discuss 
the  need 

Updating of the User guide of Directive 
2005/36/EC,  of  the  FAQ  and  of  the 
Commission  website  presenting 
the 
rules  on  the  recognition  of  professional 
qualifications 

Raise  awareness  and  inform  competent 
authorities  and  all  other  stakeholders 
about  the  changes  introduced  by  the 
modernisation 

March 2014 – January 2016 

regulated 

November 

April 
of 
map 
/ 
May 
Screening  of  Cluster  1 
February 
Mutual  evaluation  process  Cluster  1 
April 
National Action Plans Cluster 1 / 2 

2014:  
professions 
2014:  
/  2  professions 
2015:  
/  2 
2016:  

September 

January 

2015 

/ 

/ 

January 2016 

February 
the  modernisation  of 
Qualifications 

2014: 
12 
the 
Conference  on 
Directive 
Professional 
May 
2014: 
Publication of a brochure on the new rules in all 
official languages of the EU4 

Extension 
IMI  
and  training  of  the  users  for  the  use  of 
the new mechanisms in IMI 

of 

September 
Last quarter 2015 

2014 

– 

September 

2015 

Preparing the implementing  / delegated 
acts ensuring the implementation of the 
relevant provisions of the Directive 

January 2014 onwards 

b). Member States will support the transposition of the Directive into national law by: 

Support action 

Timing 

effective 
coordination  at 
Ensuring 
national 
level  and  preparing  an 
implementation plan aiming at a timely 
and full transposition into national law 

September 2014 

Actively 
the 
bilateral/multilateral meetings set up by 

taking 

part 

in 

4 See http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/publications/docs/professional-qualifications-regime_en.pdf 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
and 

Commission 

sharing 
the 
information  about  the  implementation 
(in  meetings  or  upon  demand  by 
another  Member 
the 
Commission) 

State 

or 

Carrying  out  the  screening  exercise  of 
the 
regulated  professions, 
proportionality  assessment,  drafting 
national  sectoral  reports  and  sharing 
best practices, national experiences, and 
presenting the solutions adopted 

including 

Informing  the  Commission  about  any 
potential  problems  related 
the 
implementation  as  soon  as  they  are 
the 
identified 
Commission  on  draft 
transposition 
measures 

consulting 

and 

to 

Nominating  the  competent  authorities, 
putting  into  place  the  necessary  bodies 
and  organising  the  workflows  ensuring 
the  correct  application  of  the  rules 
under 
the 
personnel involved in carrying out these 
procedures 

the  Directive; 

training 

Ensuring  that  sufficient  financial  and 
human  resources  are  made  available  at 
national level for the correct functioning 
of the recognition mechanisms 

Communicating  to  the  Commission  the 
data necessary for the development and 
the  deployment  of 
IMI 
functionalities 

the  new 

to 

the  Commission 

the 
Notifying 
transposition  measures  together  with  the 
necessary  “explanatory  documents”  on 
the transposition 

January 2014 – January 2016 

regulated 

November 

April 
of 
map 
May 
/ 
Screening  of  Cluster  1 
February 
Mutual  evaluation  process  Cluster  1 
April 
National Action Plans Cluster 1 / 2 

2014:  
professions 
2014:  
/  2  professions 
2015:  
/  2 
2016:  

September 

January 

2015 

/ 

/ 

January 2014 – January 2016 

January 2015 – January 2016 

January 2016 onwards 

Fourth quarter 2015 

18 January 2016 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Part II. Transposition of amending Directive 2013/55/EU in the Member States 

Austria 

Transposition measures adopted at federal level as well as at the level of the 
Länder, mainly sector-specific laws (64 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in October 2019. 

Belgium 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national and regional level (32 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in November 2019. 

Bulgaria 

Horizontal transposition (6 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in March 2017.  

Croatia 

Transposition by horizontal and sectoral (profession specific) laws on a 
national level (12 notifications of measures) 

The last measure notified in November 2019. 

Cyprus  

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
at national level (11 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in January 2020. 

Czechia 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (23 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in October 2016. 

Denmark 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (46 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in June 2019. 

Estonia 

Transposition by means of 1 horizontal law and several sectoral (profession- 
specific) regulations at national level (11 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in January 2016. 

Finland 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national and regional level (7 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in April 2019. 

8 

 
 
 
France 

Transposition mainly by means of sectoral (profession-specific) laws and 
regulations at national level, with small number of horizontally applicable 
provisions (85 notifications of measures) 

The last measure notified in October 2019. 

Germany 

Transposition by sectoral (profession-specific) laws and regulations at 
federal and regional level (66 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in January 2020. 

Greece 

Horizontal transposition (1 measure). 

The measure notified in June 2017. 

Hungary 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (35 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in January 2017. 

Ireland 

Horizontal transposition (1 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in January 2017. 

Italia 

Horizontal transposition (1 notification of measures). 

The measure notified in February 2016. 

Latvia 

Transposition by means of a horizontal law and a sectoral (profession-
specific) regulation at national level (33 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in February 2020. 

Lithuania 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (20 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in July 2016. 

Luxembourg 

Horizontal transposition (2 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in March 2019. 

Malta 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) acts 
and regulations (8 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in July 2019. 

9 

 
 
The 
Netherlands 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (25 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in November 2016. 

Poland 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (26 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in August 2019. 

Portugal 

Horizontal transposition (1 notification of measures). 

The last measure notified in May 2017. 

Romania 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (16 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in October 2018. 

Slovakia 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (4 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in March 2018. 

Slovenia 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (6 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in February 2017. 

Spain 

Horizontal transposition (1 measure). 

The measure notified in June 2017. 

Sweden 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (43 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in November 2016. 

United 

Kingdom 

Transposition by means of horizontal and sectoral (profession-specific) laws 
and regulations at national level (12 notifications of measures). 

The last measure notified in December 2016. 

(Source: MNE database, March 2020) 

10 

 
 
 
 
Part III. Key issues raised in the infringement procedures concerning the non-conformity of national provisions and practice to 

Directive 2005/36/EC as amended by Directive 2013/55/EU 

Disclaimers: For ease of reference, the issues presented below are grouped into broader categories. The grievances raised in specific Member 
States might have concerned all or only limited aspects of these categories (for example, non-transposition in a specific region, with respect to 
some professions only, etc.).  

As set out in the Withdrawal Agreement, EU law continues to apply in full to the UK for the duration of the transition period. In particular, the 
UK  remains  subject  to  the  EU's  enforcement  mechanisms,  such  as  infringement  procedures.  The  UK  has  been  taken  into  account  in  the 
preparation of this table.  

The data presented in this staff working document is as of March 2020. 

Sectoral professions 

Issues raised 

Profession 

Article 

Ensuring sufficient training duration in 
years, and training hours, where 
required (and European Credit Transfer 
and Accumulation System (ECTS) on an 
optional basis only) 

Doctor, specialised doctor 
Nurse responsible for general care 
Dentist, specialised dentist 
Veterinary surgeon 
Midwife 
Pharmacist 
Architect 

24, 25, 28 
31 
34, 35 
38 
40, 41 
44 
46 

Total Member States concerned (all professions): 

MSs who 
received 
letters of 
formal 
notice  
7 
 6  
 3 
 2 
 4 
 1 
3 
13 

New list of competences 

Nurse responsible for general care 

31(7) 

 3 

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases 
where MSs 
show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs 
are ongoing 

5 
5 
3 
2 
4  
1 
2 
10 

3 

7 
3 
3 
2 
3 
1 
3 
9 

2 

0 
3 
0  
0  
1 
0  
 0 
4 

1 

11 

 
 
 
Knowledge and skills updates 

Total Member States concerned: 

Doctor 
Nurse responsible for general care 
Veterinary surgeon 
Midwife 
Pharmacist 
Architect 

Total Member States concerned (all professions): 

Ensuring proper ratio between 
theoretical and clinical parts of training, 
and/or coordinating between theoretical 
and clinical training  

Doctor, specialised doctor 
Nurse responsible for general care 

Midwife 

Total Member States concerned (all professions): 

Ensuring access to the minimum list of 
professional activities 

General practitioner (pursuit of the 
activity) 
Dentist 
Midwife 
Pharmacist 
Architect 

24(3) 
31(6) 
38(3) 
40(3) 
44(3) 
46(2) 

31 

29 

36 
42 
45 
48 

Total Member States concerned (all professions): 

Ensuring minimum conditions for 
traineeships/practical or clinical training 

Doctor, specialised doctor 
Nurse responsible for general care 
Architect 

28(3), 25(3) 
31(5) 
46(4) 

Total Member States concerned (all professions): 

General acquired rights and other 
acquired rights referred to in Article 23 

Doctor, specialised doctor 
Nurse responsible for general care 
Dentist, specialised dentist 
Veterinary surgeon 

23 
23 
23 
23 

12 

3 

1 
1 
2 
0  
1 
2 

7 

 1 
2 

4 

5 

1 

3 
 6 
5 
4 

11 

4 
1 
7 

10 

10 
 9 
 10 
 8 

3 

0 
1 
2 
0  
1 
0  

4 

1 
1 

4 

4 

1 

2 
5 
5  
4 

9 

4 
1 
5 

8 

8 
6 
8 
6 

2 

1 
1 
2 
0  
1 
2 

7 

1 
2 

3 

4 

0 

3 
5 
4  
4 

10 

4 
1 
7 

10 

10 
9 
10 
8 

1 

0 
0  
0  
 0 
0  
 0 

0 

0  
0 

1 

1 

1 

0 
1 
1 
0 

1 

0  

0 

 0 
 0 
 0 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Midwife 
Pharmacist 
Architect 

Total Member States concerned (all professions): 

Profession-specific acquired rights 

Doctor, specialised doctor 
Nurse responsible for general care 
Dentist, specialised dentist 
Midwife 
Architect 

Total Member States concerned (all professions): 

Other issues (minimum training subjects 
listed in Annex V) 

Doctor, specialised doctor 
Nurse responsible for general care 
Dentist, specialised dentist 
Veterinary surgeon 
Midwife 
Pharmacist 

23 
23 
23 

27, 30 
33, 33a 
37 
43, 43a 
49 

Annex V 
Annex V 
Annex V 
Annex V 
Annex V 
Annex V 

Total Member States concerned (all professions): 

Other issues (access conditions for 
specialised dentists, opening up new 
pharmacies, specific derogations for 
architects, remuneration for trainee 
specialists in medical training, approval 
by health insurance funds) 

Dentist, specialised dentist, doctor, 
specialised doctor, pharmacist, architect 

35(1), 21(4), 
25(3), 47, 
55 

 11 
 10 
8 

19 

 5 
 7 
9 
 8 
5 

16 

3 
3  
3 
1 
2 
1 

6 

5 

9 
7 
5 

14 

4 
7 
8 
7 
3 

12 

3 
2 
3 
0 
1 
1 

4 

3 

11 
10 
8 

19 

4 
6 
9 
7 
5 

14 

3 
3 
3 
0 
2 
1 

5 

5 

 0 
0  
0 

0 

1 
1 
0  
1 
 0 

2 

 0 
 0 
0 
1 
0 
0 

1 

0 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
General system of recognition 

Issues raised 

Changes to qualification levels 

Mobility of professionals from non-regulating to regulating 
Member States (1 year’s professional experience) 

Revised provisions on the imposition of compensation measures 

Other issues (for example, non-application of the general system 
of recognition for sectoral professions, if conditions for automatic 
recognition are not fulfilled) 

MSs who 
received 
formal notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

4  

5 

10 

5 

2 

1 

5 

4 

3 

3 

8 

4 

1 

2 

2 

1 

Article 

11, 13 

13 

14 

10 
12 

Temporary service provision 

Issues raised 

Asking for proof of 2 years’ professional experience (when only 1 year can be 
required) when the profession is not regulated in the home Member State; or 
requiring professional experience to be acquired in one Member State; or no 
exemption in cases of regulated education and training 

MSs who 
received 
letters of 
formal 
notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

7 

4 

6 

1 

Article 

5(1)(b) 
7(2)(d) 

14 

 
 
 
 
Unjustified enquiries about the services to be provided, or requests for 
documents going beyond the list in Article 7(2) 

7(1)-(2) 

11 

Validity of prior declarations in the entire territory of the host Member State 

7(2a) 

Failure to ensure that an applicant be able to provide his service within 1 month 
of the competent authorities’ having decided to impose a prior aptitude test 
(Article 7(4)) 

7(4) 3rd sub-
paragraph 

Systematic application of prior checks of qualifications under Article 7(4); 
application of prior checks to professions which do not appear to have public 
health and safety implications for the recipient of services, or to the professions 
which benefit from automatic recognition; failure to comply with a requirement 
to ensure that checks do not go beyond what is necessary  

Imposing on service providers professional rules that are not directly linked to 
professional qualifications 

7(4) 

5(3) 

6 

6 

8 

8 

Automatic/pro forma registration of service providers without guarantees that 
this would not delay or complicate the provision of services, or entail additional 
costs for service providers; exemption of foreign service providers from the 
requirements relating to registration with a public social security body 

6 

10 

Other issues (for example, administrative cooperation, principle of temporary or 
occasional provision of services, all Title II not transposed for specific 
profession(s), obligations to inform service recipients, use of professional title) 

Title II, 5(1), 
7(3), 8, 9 

9 

8 

2 

3 

6 

5 

8 

5 

5 

6 

5 

5 

4 

6 

5 

6 

0 

1 

3 

4 

4 

4 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
Transparency 

Issues raised 

Article 

MSs who 
received 
letters of 
formal notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

Failure to list existing regulated professions, specifying the activities 
covered by each profession, a list of regulated education and training, 
and training with a special structure 

Failure to list professions for which a check of qualifications is deemed 
necessary prior to the first provision of services under Article 7(4), 
including adequate justifications 

59(1) 

59(2) 

Lack of proportionality assessments of existing requirements (prior to Jan 
2016) 

59(3) & (5) 

Failure to provide National Action Plans 

Lack of proportionality assessments of new or amended requirements 
(introduced after Jan 2016) 

Failure to submit biannual reports about requirements removed or made 
less stringent 

Failure to submit biannual reports, including statistics and the main 
problems arising from the application of the Directive 

59(5) 

59(3) & 

59(5), 2nd 
sentence) 

59(6) 

60(1) 

16 

21 

24 

26 

4 

22 

19 

16 

20 

18 

17 

3 

14 

7 

9 

20 

23 

24 

1 

20 

18 

16 

1 

1 

2 

3 

2 

1 

0 

 
 
 
 
 
Partial access 

Issues raised 

Article 

MSs who 
received 
letters of 
formal notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

Exclusion of certain professions from the principle of partial access 
(exclusion of ‘sectoral’ professions per se, unjustified exclusion of other 
professions, no case-by-case assessment) 

Partial access should be applied as an ex officio decision and not only 
upon the specific and explicit request of the applicant in question 

4f 

4f 

Other issues 

10 

2 

1 

8 

2 

 0 

7 

2 

1 

3 

0 

 0 

Language controls 

Issues raised 

Only the knowledge of one official language of the host Member State 
may be required  

Systematic language checks may only be applied for professionals 
whose job has implications for patient safety 

Article 

53(2) 

53(3) 

Language controls should not be limited to mandatory language tests 

53(4) 

Other issues  

53(4) 

17 

MSs who 
received 
letters of 
formal notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

2 

5 

6 

1 

1 

2 

4 

1 

1 

4 

1 

1 

1 

1 

5 

0 

 
 
  
 
 
Traineeships 

Issues raised 

Article 

MSs who 
received letters 
of formal 
notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

Recognition of professional traineeships  

55a 

7 

5 

5 

2 

Issues raised 

Deadlines, including extension of deadlines 

EPC 

Article 

4c(1), 4d 

Tacit recognition in case of no decision or failure to organise a test 

4d(5) 

European Professional Card (EPC) not fully transposed for some 
professions or in parts of the MS in question 

4d 

The role of home MS improperly defined 

Failure to designate competent authorities 

Other issues (for example, possibilities of appeals, document 
requirements, EPC revocation, ambiguous wording)  

4b(3), 
Implementing 
Regulation (EU) 
2015/983 

4a(6) 

18 

MSs who 
received 
letters of 
formal notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

4 

6 

3 

3 

2 

8 

3 

5 

2 

1 

2 

5 

4 

6 

3 

3 

1 

8 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

 
 
 
  
 
Alert mechanism 

Issues raised 

Article 

Deadlines to send alerts 

Alert not implemented for some professions or in parts of the MS in 
question 

No, or few, alerts sent 

Alert not implemented at all 

56a(2), 56a(3) 

56a(1),(2, (3)) 

56a 

56a 

Other issues (for example, data protection, deletion of data, obligation 
to inform the professional concerned, access to remedies, types of 
decisions covered) 

56a(1), 56a(5)-
(7) 

MSs who 
received 
letters of 
formal notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

8 

4 

12 

2 

11 

2 

3 

2 

2 

3 

8 

4 

12 

1 

11 

0 

0 

0 

1 

0 

Access to online information, procedures and reduction of red tape 

Issues raised 

Illegal practices concerning requests for documents (documents going 
beyond what is permitted under the Directive, unjustified translations, 
certified copies, etc.) 

Assistance centres 
Availability of information through points of single contact 
Availability of online procedures (and possibility to complete them 
online) 

MSs who 
received 
letters of 
formal notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

10 

3 

11 

4 

15 

4 
 28 

28 

4 

0 
28 

28 

Article 

7(2), 50, 
Annex VII 
& 
49, 56 TFEU 
57b 
57 

57a 

19 

 
 
 
  
  
 
 
Other issues 

Issues raised 

Article 

MSs who 
received 
letters of 
formal notice  

MSs who 
received 
reasoned 
opinions 

Cases where 
MSs show 
progress 

Cases where 
discussions 
with MSs are 
ongoing 

Definitions (such as aptitude test, regulated profession) 

Scope of application of the revised Directive, first recognition of 
third country qualifications, relationship to other EU instruments  

Principle of automatic recognition for professions with harmonised 
training requirements or for craft, trade and industry professions 

Acknowledgement of receipt of documents within 1 month and info 
about missing documents 

3 

2 

21 
15-17 

51 

10 

7 

2 

5 

8 

5 

2 

2 

8 

6 

2 

4 

2 

1 

0 

1 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
Part IV. Statistics on the use of the Internal Market Information System 

This Part provides the data regarding the use of the IMI platform under the revised Directive 
for  (i)  general  administrative  coperation,  (ii)  the  notification  of  qualifications  meeting  the 
harmonised training requirements, (iii) the implementation of the European Professional Card 
(EPC) and the alert mechanism. 

1. 

Administrative cooperation 

Since the introduction of the IMI in the area of professional qualifications, the number of IMI 
administrative  requests  has  increased  steadily  over  time  and  continued  growing  since  the 
entry  into  force  of  Directive  2013/55/EU  (with  a  negligible  decline  in  2018).  In  the  most 
recent  period  (2016-2019),  the  average  number  of  IMI  requests,  amounting  to  2 588  per 
quarter, has remained stable. 

Chart 1. IMI requests for information concerning professional qualifications per year (2008-
2018) 

10719 

10251 

11260 

9184 

7266 

5778 

4527 

1836 

2166 

1404 

3091 

374 

Directive 2013/55/EU 

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Source: IMI 

The statistical data also shows that with the use of IMI’s being mandatory, the total number 
of IMI requests being sent by Member States has doubled. Testament to this is the fact that 
the  IMI  requests  received  in  the  last  4  years  (2016-2019)  alone  constituted  more  than  half 
(61%) of total IMI requests sent over the last 10 years. 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chart  2.  Number  of  IMI  requests  for  information  concerning  professional  qualifications  in 
2008-2019 

100%

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%

Source: IMI 

[SERIES NAME] 

 [VALUE] 

[SERIES NAME] 

[VALUE] 

Almost  3 100  competent  authorties  are  registered  with  the  module  of  IMI  requests  for 
information (compared to over 300 authorities back in 2008). 

The  most  active  countries  in  sending  IMI  requests  in  2008-2019  were  the  UK,  Norway, 
Sweden,  the  Netherlands,  Germany,  Greece,  Italy,  Austria,  Ireland  and  France.  Romania, 
Spain,  Poland,  Germany,  Italy,  Greece,  the  UK,  Bulgaria,  Hungary  and  Slovakia  were 
amongst  the  Member  States  receiving  the  most  requests  in  the  same  period.  Similar 
tendencies could also be observed throughout recent years (2016-2019). Response rates have 
generally remained high (for instance, in the period 2016-2019, for all countries, the response 
rate  was  96%,  and  in  the  vast  majority  of  cases,  over  95%,  except  for  three  countries  with 
average response rates ranging from 80% to 86%). However, the response times vary greatly 
from one country to another. 

Chart  3.  Total  number  of  IMI  requests  for  information  ((sent  and  received)  per  country 
(2008-2019) 

18000

16000

14000

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0

AT BE BG CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR EL HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK UK

 Source: IMI 

Sent

Received

22 

 
 
 
 
 
Chart 4. Average response times (in calendar days) (2016-2019) 

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

62 

59 

17 

11 

11  10  9  7  7  6 

3 

19 

24 

20 

17 

11 

8  8 

9  7 

10  10 

17 

14  15 

14 

10 

9  9  10 

8 

AT BE BG CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR EL HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK UK

Source: IMI 

2. 

 Notification of new qualifications (Annex V) 

Currently, 234 competent authorties are registered with the module of notification of Annex 
V qualifications (152 for  IMI healthcare professions module and 119 for the  IMI architects 
module5).  Italy,  France,  Belgium,  Spain,  Denmark,  the  UK  and  Germany  are  amongst  the 
Member  States  which  have  notified  the  highest  number  of  changes  (including  both 
substantive  and  editorial  changes)  to  Annex  V  qualifications  since  the  launch  of  IMI 
modules. 

Chart  5  IMI  notifications  concerning  qualifications  listed  in  Annex  V  per  Member  State 
(2014-2019) 

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

69 

45 

49 

34 

26 

30 

4  6  7 

4  6 

3 

14 

10 

12 

7 

4 

6 

1  3 

20 

18 

15 

13  13 

7 

6 

3 

AT BE BG CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI FR HR HU IE IT LT LU LV MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK UK

Source: IMI 

5 Certain authorities have access to both modules. These are typically authorities/ministries of education.  

23 

 
 
 
 
                                                           
An  overall  majority  of  IMI  notifications  related  to  architects’  (52%)  and  doctors’  (37%) 
qualifications,  followed  by  notifications  related  to  dental  practitioners’  qualifications  (4%). 
While more than half of the notifications (52%) related to new evidence of qualifications or 
training  programme,  a  comparably  high  proportion  (46%)  of  notifications  related  to  purely 
editorial, technical changes having no effect on the contents of the training programmes (such 
as changes to the names of the awarding bodies).6  

Chart 6. IMI notifications relating to qualifications listed in Annex V per sectoral profession 
(2014-2019) 

Midwives (10) 
2% 

Dentists (17) 
4% 

Nurses 
(9) 
2% 

Veterinary 
surgeons (5) 
1% 

Pharmacists (4) 
1% 

Doctors (162) 
37% 

[CATEGORY NAME] 
52% 

Source: IMI 

6  A  minor  number  of  notifications  also  relate  to  qualifications  that  have  been  withdrawn  from  Annex  V  (such  as 
qualifications that no longer fulfil the harmonised minimum training requirements). 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
3. 

 European Professional Card (EPC) and alert mechanism 

This  section  presents  the  updated  statistics  on  the  use  of  the  EPC  and  alert  mechanism 
modules in the IMI since their launch on 18 January 2016, up to and including 31 December 
2019. 

In  2019  there  were  a  total  of   2496  competent  authorities  registered  in  the  IMI  for  various 
modules linked to the alert mechanism and the EPC. The number of authorities in the EPC 
module has remained relatively stable (697 authorities in 2016 and 796 in 2019). By contrast, 
the number of authorities registered for different alert modules has increased over time (1 888 
authorities in 2016 and 2 204 in 2019). The number increased significantly in 2018 and 2019. 
This might be due to the Commission’s enforcement action. 

Chart  7.  Evolution  in  the  number  of  authorities  registered  in  the  IMI  for  different  alert 
modules and EPC (2016 – 2019) 

EPC

PQ Alerts - Falsified diplomas

PQ Alerts - Education of minors

PQ Alerts - Other health professions

PQ Alerts - Veterinary surgeons/nurses

PQ Alerts - Nurses

PQ Alerts - Doctors

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

2 0 1 6  

2 0 1 7  

2 0 1 8  

2 0 1 9  

Source: IMI  

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
3.1 European Professional Card (EPC) 

Since the publication of the 2018 staff working document7, the number of EPC applications 
has continued to increase steadily. A total of 10 552 EPC applications have been submitted 
since the EPC was launched in 2016. 

Chart 8. Submitted EPC applications per 6 months (Q1 2016-2019) 

1891 

1629 

1409 

1260 

1139 

1169 

1215 

840 

2000

1800

1600

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

J A N - J U N  
2 0 1 6  

J U L - D E C  
2 0 1 6  

J A N - J U N  
2 0 1 7  

J U L - D E C  
2 0 1 7  

J A N - J U N  
2 0 1 8  

J U L - D E C  
2 0 1 8  

J A N - J U N  
2 0 1 9  

J U L - D E C  
2 0 1 9  

Source: IMI 

Statistics  show  that  48%  of  the  applications  were  submitted  with  the  purpose  of  the 
applicants’  permanently  establishing  themselves  in  another  Member  State,  while  52%  were 
submitted in order to provide services on a temporary or occassional basis. This is a change 
from the results presented in the 2018 staff working document (57% and 43% respectively). 
The increase in  applications for temporary or occassional  service provision can possibly be 
explained by the increase in the number of mountain guide applications. This is because these 
applicants predominantly apply to provide services on a temporary or occassional basis (see 
Chart 10 below), due to the nature of their profession.  

General care nurses and pharmacists, the two professions with harmonised minimum traning 
requirements  across  the  EU,  submitted  1 865  establishment  and  715  temporary  service 
provision applications under the automatic recognition system. Automatic recognition is not 
available  for  the  remaining  EPC  professions.  EPC  applications  for  establishment  remain 
predominant  for professions falling under automatic recognition,  and the trend is  stable. Of 
all  automatic  recognition  applications  up  to  and  including  2019,  72%  related  to 
establishment, compared to the figure of 70% given in the 2018 staff working document.  

7 European Commission, SWD (2018) 90 final, Assessment of stakeholders’ experience with the European 
Professional Card and the Alert Mechanism procedures. 

26 

 
 
 
 
                                                           
Chart  9.  Submitted  EPC  applications  per  purpose  and  per  recognition  system  (all 
professions) (2016-2019) 

Automatic recognition

General system

6000

5000

4000

3000

2000

1000

0

Source: IMI  

3169 

1865 

4803 

715 

Establishment

Temporary and occassional provision of services

Mountain  guides  were  the  most  active  in  the  period  analysed,  followed  closely  by 
physiotherapists.  Mountain  guides  represented  37%  of  all  applications,  with  3926 
applications.  Physiotherapists  followed,  with  3541  applications  (34%  of  total),  then  nurses 
responsible for  general  care, with  2027  applications (19% of total), pharmacists, with  7137 
applications (7% of total), and real estate agents, with 341 applications (3% of total). This is a 
change from the data presented in the 2018 staff working document, according to which most 
applications were submitted by physiotherapists (1529 applications, or 38% of total), nurses 
responsible  for  general  care  (1037  applications,  or  26%  of  total),  mountain  guides  (903 
applications, or 23% of total), pharmacists (396 applications, or 10% of total), and real estate 
agents (132 applications, or 3% of total). The change testifies to the growing popularity of the 
EPC among mountain guides.  

Chart 10. Submitted EPC applications per profession (2016 –2019) 

Pharmacist; 717; 
7% 

Physiotherapist; 
3541; 34% 

Mountain guide; 
3926; 37% 

Real estate agent; 
341; 3% 

Nurse; 2027; 19% 

Source: IMI  

Most  applications  were  processed  by  Italy,  France,  the  UK,  Spain  and  Germany  (both  as 
home and host Member State).  

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Chart 11. Submitted EPC applications per Member State (selected as home and host): 2016-
Q2 2019 

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

AT BE BG CY CZ DE DK EE EL ES FI FR HR HU IE IT LT LU LV MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK UK

Home MS

Host MS

Source: IMI 

The  majority  of  issued  EPCs  were  issued  to  nurses,  pharmacist  and  physiotherapists  to 
establish themselves. For mountain guides and real estate agents, more EPCs were issued for 
temporary or occasional  service provision. The clear tendency of mountain  guides to  apply 
for an EPC for temporary or occasional service provision (as shown in chart 12 below) may 
be explained by the nature of their profession. Mountain guides established in one Member 
State would use the EPC to provide services in other Member States from their home base. 

Chart 12. Number of issued EPC certificates per profession (2016-2019) 

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

Establishment

Temporary services

2678 

159 

562 

316 

306 

59 

1089 

385 

154 

45 

Mountain guide

General care nurse

Pharmacist

Physiotherapist

Real estate agent

Source: IMI  

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
3.2 Alert mechanism 

A total of 46784 alerts have been sent by the Member State authorities since the introduction 
of  the  alert  mechanism  on  18  January  2016.  The  number  has  kept  increasing  since  the 
publication  of  the  2018  staff  working  document.  The  vast  majority  of  alerts  were  sent  for 
cases where a professional was restricted or prohibited from practising. Only 11 alerts were 
sent for the use of falsified diplomas (compared to 5 at the time of publication of the 2018 
staff working document).  

Chart 13. Number of alerts sent per quarter (2016-2019) 

3617 

3287 

2371 

1937 

2987 

3170 

2881 

2363 

2626  2631 

3197 

3116 

2850  2848 

2793 

2863 

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

1500

1000

500

0

Source: IMI  

The alerts are sent using different modules in the IMI system, according to the profession or 
category  of  the  alerts  concerned.  The  following  diagram  shows  the  distribution  of  alerts 
among  the  various  modules  in  the  period  analysed.  This  distribution  has  not  changed 
significantly since the publication of the 2018 staff working document.   

Chart 14. Alerts sent using the specific modules by all Member States (2016-2019) 

21530 

25000

20000

15000

10000

5000

0

13218 

9397 

1120 

261 

11 

Nurses

Other health
professions

Doctors

Education of
minors

Veterinary
surgeons

Falsified diplomas

Source: IMI  

29 

 
 
 
 
The  IMI  enables  national  authorities  to  classify  an  alert  concerning  the  restriction  or 
prohibition  of  a  professional  as  being  sent  on  the  basis  of  either  ‘substantial  reasons 
concerning  the  practice  of  the  profession’  or  on  the  basis  of  ‘other  reasons’  (such  as  non-
payment of membership fees, in countries with compulsory membership requirements).  

Between 18 January 2016 and 31 December 2019, around 69% (31312) of alerts were sent on 
the basis of substantial reasons and falsified diplomas and only around 31% (14214) on the 
basis of other reasons. This distribution has remained stable since the publication of the 2018 
staff  working  document,  with  a  slight  increase  in  alerts  on  the  basis  of  substantial  reasons 
(74% and 26% respectively).  

Chart 15. Alerts sent by IMI module and reason (2016 –2019) 

Substantial reasons and falsified diplomas

Other reasons

16000

14000

12000

10000

8000

6000

4000

2000

0

13458 

8072 

9376 

3842 

7358 

2039 

1028 

92 

92 

169 

Nurses

Other health
professions

Doctors

Education of minors Veterinary surgeons
and veterinary nurses

Source: IMI  

A significant majority of the alerts were sent by the UK competent authorities, followed by 
Italian and Lithuanian authorities. Since the publication of the 2018 staff working document , 
the  same  Member  States  have  remained  in  the  top  10  senders  of  alerts.  As  yet,  5  Member 
States have not sent any alerts (as opposed to 10 Member States at the time of publication of 
the 2018 staff working document). The significant decrease in the number of Member States 
which have not sent any alerts yet may be due to the Commission’s enforcement action.   

30 

 
 
 
 
Part V. Results of the special upgrading programme for Romanian nurses 

Background 

Romanian professional qualifications as nurse responsible for general care are automatically 
recognised  in  line  with  Article  21(1)  of  the  Directive,  if  they  fulfil  the  minimum  training 
requirements of Article 31 of the Directive, if the diploma in question is listed in Annex V, 
point 5.2.2. to the Directive, and if the training started after the reference date of 1.1.2007.  

Diplomas that do not fulfil these requirements can still be recognised automatically under the 
special acquired rights arrangements set out in Article 33(a) of the Directive. To benefit from 
automatic recognition, the applicant must hold one of the professional qualifications listed in 
Article 33(a) and have 3 out of last 5 years of relevant professional experience in Romania.  

If the requirements for automatic recognition are not fulfilled, the application for recognition 
is  assessed  under  the  general  system  of  recognition,  according  to  Articles  10-14  of  the 
Directive.  

At the same time, in line with recital 36 of Directive 2013/55/EU, the Romanian government 
was  invited  to  establish  an  upgrading  programme  for  nurses,  to  allow  those  not  previously 
covered  by  any  of  the  above  ways  of  getting  automatic  recognition,  to  upgrade  their 
qualifications.  Article  60(2)(d)  of  Directive  2005/36/EC  expressly  states 
the 
professionals concerned by the Romanian upgrading programme are holders of the evidence 
of  formal  qualifications  mentioned  in  Article  33(a)8,  and  of  evidence  of  formal  post-
secondary level qualifications.  

that 

Implementation of the Romanian special upgrading programme 

The  upgrading  programme  for  nurses  responsible  for  general  care,  who  acquired  their 
qualifications  before  1  January  2017,  was  effectively  introduced  by  Joint  Order  of  the 
Minister  for  National  Education  and  of  the  Minister  for  Health  no.  4317/943/2014,  as 
amended.  For  graduates  of  post-secondary  education,  the  programme  was  offered  by 
accredited  public  and  private  vocational  post-secondary  schools.  For  graduates  of  higher 
education, it was offered by accredited higher education institutions.  

Graduates therefore receive two types of evidence of qualifications: 

8 Article 33(a) of Directive 2005/36/EC, as amended, refers to: 
(a) Certificat  de  competențe  profesionale  de  asistent  medical  generalist  with  post-secondary  education  obtained  from  a 
școală postliceală, attesting to training started before 1 January 2007; 
(b) Diplomă de absolvire de asistent medical generalist with short-time higher education studies, attesting to training started 
before 1 October 2003; 
(c) Diplomă de licență de asistent medical generalist  with long-time higher education studies, attesting to training started 
before 1 October 2003. 

31 

 
 
                                                           
1)  a certificate for the revalorisation of the professional competences of post-secondary 
graduates  (Certificat  de  revalorizare  a  competentelor  profesionale)  referred  to  in 
Article 3(1) of Joint Order no. 4317/943/2014 and Annex 3 to it;  

2)  a  Bachelor’s  degree  for  university  graduates,  who  fulfil  the  legal  requirements  for 
access  to  the  upgrading  programme  and  who  pass  the  graduation  examination, 
according to the legislation in force (Diploma de Licenta) referred to in Article 3(2) of 
Joint Order no. 4317/943/2014.  

As  for  the  actual  training,  Annex  I  to  Joint  Order  no.  4317/943/2014  lists  contains  five 
distinct upgrading curricula for holders of evidence of formal post-secondary qualifications9. 
Annex  II  contains  one  curriculum  for  higher  education  graduates.  Each  of  the  Annexes 
specify  the  competences  students  need  to  acquire  during  their  training  and  set  out  the 
requirements concerning the clinical training tutors/supervisors.  

The methodology for the post-secondary level of the programme is set out in the Order of the 
Ministry  of  National  Education  no.  5114/2014.  Among  other  things,  it  covers  the 
composition  and  role  of  the  bodies  in  charge  of  monitoring  the  implementation  of  the 
programme,  the  enrolment  requirements  and  the  organisation  of  the  final  evaluation  of  the 
students. 

To  implement  the  programme  at  post-secondary  level,  8  train-the-trainer  training  sessions 
were  organized  between  December  2013  and  June  201410,  with  experts  from  5  Member 
States (BE, DK, IE, PL and the UK). 

9 Five types of evidence of formal post-secondary qualifications referred to in Annex I to Joint Order no. 4317/943/2014: 
1) Diploma de absolvire a şcolii tehnice sanitare  
2)  Diplomă/Certificat  de  absolvire  a  şcolii  postliceale/Certificat  de  competenţe  profesionale  (Liceu  +  curs  echivalare 
postliceal (1 an) 
3) Diploma de absolvire a şcolii postliceale. Promoţia 1991-1994 
4) Certificat de absolvire a şcolii postliceale. Promoţia 1992-1995 
5) Certificat de competenţe profesionale. Promoţia 2006-2009 

10 Romanian authorities provided the following information about the training sessions to the European Commission:  

1. 

Training session in Bucharest, December 19, 2013, at the Fundeni Sanitary School in Bucharest.  

Attendees:  Mr  Ayhan  Findik,  Belgium,  Clinical  Research  Coordinator  in  Neurology  at  Saint-Luc  Clinics,  and  Assistant 
Professor/Maître  Assistant  at  the  Leonard  de  Vinci  Higher School,  and  representatives  from  the  following  post-secondary 
schools:  Sanitary  Post  High  School  Unit,  Fundeni;  St.  Joseph’s  Romano-Catholic  College  in  Bucharest;  Ion  Cantacuzino 
Theoretical High School in Pitesti; Anghel Saligny Ploiesti, Saint Apostol Andrei Technological High School in Ploiesti. 

2. 

Training session in Craiova, February 10, 2014, at the Charles Laugier High School in Craiova. 

Attendees:  Mrs  Kelly  Helen  Elizabeth  Paris  Taylor,  International  Consultant,  University  College  Zealand,  Denmark;  Mrs 
Ann-Berit Schelde, International Consultant, University College Zealand, Denmark, and representatives from the following 
post-secondary  schools:  Sanitary  Post  High  School  Unit,  Fundeni;  Charles  Laugier  High  School  in  Craiova;  Mehedinti 
Sanitary  School;  Slatina  Sanitary  School;  Antim  Ivireanu  High  School  in  Rm;  Vâlcea  Post-secondary  School  in  Dobreta 
Turnu-Severin. 

32 

 
 
                                                           
 
Impact of the upgrading programme 

As it stands, the Directive does not oblige the host Member States to automatically recognize 
the  qualifications  of  nurses  who  have  successfully  completed  the  upgrading  programme.  In 
line  with  Article  14(5)  of  the  Directive,  under  the  general  system  of  recognition,  the 
competent  authorities  of  the  host  Member  States  should  consider  the  completion  of  the 
upgrading programme as evidence of additional skills and knowledge acquired. 

In line with Article 60(2)(d) of the Directive, the present report on the results of the special 
upgrading  programme  should  serve  as  a  basis  for  an  assessment  by  the  Commission  of  the 

3.  
(Romanian order of nurses and midwives). 

Training  session  in  Brasov,  March  4-5,  2014,  at  the  headquarters  of  the  Brasov  Branch  of  OAMGMAMR 

Attendees:    Mr  Tom  Keighely,  UK,  Consultant  in  HealthCare  Leadership  &  Education,  and  representatives  from  the 
following post-secondary  schools: Sanitary Post High School Unit, Fundeni; Focsani Sanitary School; Alba-Iulia Sanitary 
School;  Grigore  Antipa  College  of  Sciences  Braşov;  Puskas  Tivadar  Technological  High  School  Sfântu-Gheorghe;  Titu 
Maiorescu National College Aiud. 

4. Training session in Arad, March 25-26, 2014, at the headquarters of the Arad Sanitary School. 

Attendees:  Ms  Rita  Collins,  Ireland  Lecturer  &  Erasmus  Academic  Coordinator,  University  College  Dublin,  and 
representatives from the following post-secondary schools: Sanitary Post High School Unit, Fundeni; Arad Sanitary School; 
Mircea Eliade National College Resita; Hunedoara Sanitary School; Timisoara Sanitary School; Ana Aslan National College 
Timisoara. 

5. Training session in Brasov, April 8-9, 2014, at the headquarters of the Brasov Branch of OAMGMAMR. 

Attendees: Mrs Irena Wrońska, Poland, Dean, Lublin University of Medicine; Mrs Danuta Zarzycka, Lublin University of 
Medicine,  and  Ms  Zofia  Nowak-Kapusta,  Lublin  University  of  Medicine,  and  representatives  from  the  following  schools: 
Sanitary Post High School Unit, Fundeni; Gh. Marinescu Theoretical High School in Târgu-Mureş; Tamasi Aron Theoretical 
High School in Odorheiu-Secuiesc. 

6. Training session in Cluj-Napoca, May 6-7, 2014. 

Attendees:  Mr  Manuel  Kossmann,  Germany,  graduate  of  School  of  Nursing  in  Goslar,  and  Professor  of  Nursing  at 
Pflegeschulzentrum Goslar College of Physicians, and representatives from the following post-secondary schools: Gr. Ghica 
Vodă  Iaşi;  Anastasie  Fătu  Vaslui  Sanitary  School  in  Suceava;  Mihai  Eminescu  College  in  Brasov;  Vasile  Voiculescu 
Sanitary  Technological  High  School  in  Oradea;  Betel  Pentecostal  Sanitary  Technological  High  School  in  Oradea; 
Theoretical  Sanitary  High  School  in  Bistrita;  Victor  Babes  Theoretical  High  School  in  Cluj-Napoca;  Sanitary  School  in 
Zalau; Sanitary Theoretical High School in Baia-Mare; H. Coanda Sanitary School in Baia-Mare; Reformed Post-Secondary 
School in Cluj-Napoca. 

7. Training session, June 3-4, 2014, at the Emil Palade Theoretical High School in Constanta.  

Attendees: Mr Jean-Marc  Guffroy  and Mr Philippe Daniel Testa, France, Red Cross experts, and representatives  from the 
following post-secondary schools: Sanitary Post High School Unit Fundeni; Gr. Ghica Voda Sanitary School in Iasi; Mihai 
Eminescu College in Brasov; Charles Laugier High School in Craiova.  

8. Training session in Galati, June 10–11, 2014. 

Attendees:  Ms  Alvisa  Palese,  Italy,  holder  of  a  Bachelor's  degree  in  Nursing  Science  from  Padua  University,  Associate 
Professor at Udine University, and representatives from the following post-secondary schools: Emil Racovita High School in 
Galati;  Sanitary  Post  High  School  Unit,  Fundeni,  Bucharest;  Gr.  Ghica  Voda  in  Iasi;  Mihai  Eminescu  College  in  Brasov; 
Charles Laugier High School in Craiova. 

33 

 
 
                                                                                                                                                                                     
need  to  review  the  current  provisions  governing  the  acquired  rights  regime  applicable  to 
Romanian evidence of formal qualifications as nurse responsible for general care.  

The assessment of the results of the programme, for the purposes of this report, was carried 
out with Member State experts consulted via the Group of Coordinators for the Recognition 
of Professional  Qualifications.  Romania presented the implementation  of the programme to 
the Member States in the Group in March and May 2018. Member State experts analysed the 
information  and  documents  provided  by  Romania  and  sent  feedback  on  the  results  of  the 
programme 
the 
questions/comments from Member States. No Member State objected to Romania’s proposal 
that graduates benefit from automatic recognition in the future. 

the  Commission.  Romania  gave  satisfactory 

to  all 

replies 

to 

34