Special feature: New measures to improve EU job mobility for professionals

The free movement of workers, freedom of establishment and free provision of services are three of the founding principles of the European Union. Regulated professions - ones requiring dedicated training and expertise - have however always required special consideration as national requirements for qualifications are effectively a barrier to entry. There are more than 800 regulated professions in the EU ranging from architects to
chiropodists. Each has its own requirements as to training and qualifications - elements which are vital for both quality of work and, frequently, consumer safety. Over the past forty years three different types of regimes and numerous Directives have been introduced
to cope with the complexity of permitting professionals to work in other EU countries. In
September 2005, agreement was reached on a single Directive to govern the recognition of professional qualifications. Widely recognised as a massive achievement in consolidating and simplifying a vast body of legislation, the new Directive aims to set out clear and simple rules for working across borders and further facilitate job mobility for professionals throughout the European Union.