Voted by parliament: Moldova to integrate into European system for recognition of professional qualifications

Moldova will integrate into the European system for the recognition of professional qualifications. The legislative initiative, presented by the Education and Research Ministry (MEC), today was supported today by 71 MPs, in the first reading.

The document was presented by MEC’s Secretary General Galina Rusu. The official emphasized that the draft transposes more EU directives and aims to ensure coherence between national and European procedures for the recognition of professional qualifications.

"The purpose of the draft is to rationalize, simplify and improve the rules on the recognition of professional qualifications, in order to facilitate citizens’ access to providing services and exercising professional activities under the original professional title obtained in the country of origin, through the recognition of diplomas, certificates and other official qualification titles. At the same time, the draft sets out clear rules that condition access to a regulated profession or its exercising on the territory of Moldova. Based on the document, a person qualified in an EU state will be able to exercise the same profession in Moldova, and persons qualified in Moldova will be able to benefit from the same principle in EU member states, under the conditions laid down by law," said Galina Rusu.

Thus, the document defines the regulated professions on the territory of Moldova in accordance with European requirements, which will facilitate the recognition of the concerned qualifications in EU member states for the exercise of the profession and for professional mobility. In addition, vocational training in the national education system for regulated professions will be harmonized with the corresponding European qualifications.

"The draft law simplifies the process of recognizing qualifications and professional experience got abroad. Based on the principle that recognition applies in the same way regardless of the holder’s nationality, the act also provides for the recognition of qualifications got in third countries, subject to the minimum training conditions for certain professions. At the same time, the authorities will be able to establish their own procedures for the recognition of qualifications obtained outside the EU by citizens of third countries," said Galina Rusu.

Persons whose professional qualifications are recognized will receive from the host country a European Professional Card – an electronic certificate confirming the recognition of qualifications, allowing them either to provide services temporarily and occasionally in the issuing state or to settle and exercise their profession in that state. The draft law also provides for the establishment of an alert mechanism regarding the restriction of the exercise of professions, which will be subsequently developed by the government.

The draft introduces a mandatory proportionality test before the introduction of new regulated professions or the modification of existing requirements. The test will assess, among other aspects, the risks for service beneficiaries – consumers, professionals or other persons involved – and will contribute to ensuring the proper working of the internal market, without limiting the right of states to decide whether and how to regulate a profession, in compliance with the principles of non-discrimination and proportionality.

According to the authors, the new rules will bring benefits to more categories. Employers will have greater confidence in qualifications recognized on the basis of clear criteria harmonized at regional level, individuals will benefit from simplified procedures for the recognition of qualifications and professional experience, and education and training providers will gain international visibility and new opportunities to attract students from other European education systems.

The draft is to be examined by the parliament in the second reading and, after adoption, will enter into force on the date of Moldova’s accession to the European Union.