For Immediate Release: Thursday 12 February 2004

AURE Welcomes European Parliament Vote

Yesterday the European Parliament voted on the draft Directive on the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications. MEPs supported amendments that may require health and social care professionals to register with the relevant competent authorities when working in a host Member State.

Responding to the vote, Matt Ball, Convener of the Alliance said:

"We welcome the European Parliament's votes that will allow regulatory bodies to require health and social care professionals to be registered with them in order to practise.

“We were also pleased to note the commitment of MEPs to requiring Member States to exchange information about the fitness to practise of professionals moving between States. This will provide better protection for patients from incompetent and unscrupulous individuals who wish to move from one jurisdiction to another.

"We will be studying the detail of yesterday's vote further as we remain concerned about the free provision of services with respect to those professions where common minimum training standards do not exist between Member States e.g. chiropractic and osteopathy.

"However, we are pleased that MEPs supported amendments that would require migrant professionals to demonstrate their language skills before registration. Yesterday's vote was good news for patients throughout the EU.”

Ends

For further information and interviews with the Alliance spokespeople contact:
Matt Ball, Convenor of AURE, on 020 7344 4750 or mobile 07909 992 807

Notes to editors:

1. The membership of the Alliance (AURE) is: General Medical Council, General Dental Council, General Optical Council, General Osteopathic Council, General Chiropractic Council, Health Professions Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, General Social Care Council and the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.

2. These organisations are statutory bodies that exist to regulate those healthcare professionals who operate in these areas.

3. The EU Directive on Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications has not yet been enacted.

4. Further information can be found at www.aure.org.uk