EPSU reply and EPSU-HOSPEEM response to EC proposal to revise Directive 2005/36/EC

(Brussels, 24 May 2012) With this position paper the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) aims to make a contribution to the ongoing debate across Europe on the revision of Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, a process started in 2010 and to outline its views for the next steps of the policy process towards the adoption of the new directive to the attention of the European institutions and other interested stakeholders.

EPSU represents a total of about 8 million workers in more than 270 trade unions in 47 countries across Europe. 60% of the members of EPSU’s affiliates are women. EPSU covers workers in four key sectors of the European economy, involved in the delivery of quality public services: 1) Local and regional government (municipalities, districts, provinces/regions); 2) Central government and European administration; 3) Public utilities (i.e. the network industries: electricity, gas, water, waste) and 4) Health and social services. In the sector of health and social services, with a share of on average above 80% female workforce across the EU, EPSU represents about 3.5 unionised million women and men. EPSU is the recognised European social partner for the hospital sector and health care sector. EPSU has also developed a joint position with our sectoral European social partner, the European Hospital and Healthcare Employers‟ Association (HOSPEEM).

The position paper outlines and is structured along a number of key outstanding issues. It is based on position papers, statements, letters and and other input from a range of EPSU affiliates, in particular from Belgium (CSC), Denmark (DSR), Finland (JHK; SuPer; Tehy) Germany (Marburger Bund; ver.di), Norway (NSF), Sweden (Vårdförbundet) and the United Kingdom (RCM; RCN) as well as continued exchange and discussions since early 2012, both in the context of EPSU’s Standing Committee “Health and Social Services” and the Sectoral Social Dialogue Committee for the Hospital Sector. It further builds on EPSU’s contributions to consultation on Directive 2005/36/EC launched by the European Commission on 7 January 2011 (cf. EPSU response of 20 March 2011) and to the consultation on the Green Paper of 22 June 2011 (cf. EPSU reply of 15 September 2011) and on their main positions, key principles and recommendations, particularly in relation to health and social care professionals.

- EPSU position to the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, published by the European Commission on 19 December 2011 - in EN, FR, DE, ES and SV, as of 22 May 2012



- Joint HOSPEEM-EPSU response to the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications, published by the European Commission on 19 December 2011 - in EN only, as of 15 June 2012