SECRETARIAT GENERAL
Architects’
Council of Europe
Rue Paul Emile Janson, 29 B-1050 Bruxelles
Tel: (32) 2 543 11 40
Fax: (32) 2 543 11 41
E-mail: info@ace-cae.org Website: www.ace-cae.org
The Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) has noted,
with satisfaction, the positive outcome of the vote of the European Parliament
on the proposed directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications
that took place in Strasbourg on the 11th May 2005. This vote, in Second Reading of the
co-decision process, was based on the Common Position adopted by the Council in
May 2004. The ACE has been involved in
intensive dialogue with the EU Institutions throughout the First and Second
Readings, striving to ensure that the concerns of the architectural profession
are reflected in the provisions of the proposed directive. The ACE celebrates the fact that its voice
has been heard.
The new Directive (reference 2002/0061(COD)) will amalgamate the provisions of 15 existing directives into one new framework directive. Among the directives to be abolished are the sectoral directives for the architectural and medical professions. This was of great concern to the ACE as the provisions of the Architect Directive (85/384/EC) have proven to be highly effective in ensuring automatic mutual recognition of qualifications in the architectural profession throughout Europe and for facilitating cross-border movement of architects.
The ACE was concerned to ensure that the Commission’s stated intention of preserving the acquis communautaire would come to pass, as the original proposal did not do so. Its two main concerns were to:
1. Ensure that the 11 fundamental skills and aptitudes necessary for the maintenance of the highest quality of education for architects would be retained in the core text of the directive and not be relegated to an annexe, and
2. Ensure that the profession would be properly and formally consulted on any matters relating to the operation of the provisions of the directive insofar as they affect the profession.
Both of these prime objectives have been achieved in the text adopted by the Parliament. The ACE now awaits the outcome of the final step in which the Council will consider the result of the vote in Parliament. It is expected that, as the Second Reading was based on the Common Position of the Council, and as informal consultations took place between the Institutions concerned before the vote, there will not be a need to initiate the conciliation process for the adoption of this directive. It remains to be seen to what extent the adoption of the Qualifications Directive will impact on the ongoing legislative debate on the proposed Directive on Services in the Internal Market, notably in respect of the derogation for the architectural profession from the “Country of Origin” principle.
Brussels,
13/05/2005
Note
to editors:
Founded in 1990, ACE has its headquarters in Brussels. It has more that 40 Members who are the
representative and regulatory architectural organisations from all of the EU
Member States, the Acceding States and Norway and Switzerland. It Members therefore represent more than
450,000 architects across Europe.
For further information on the ACE see: www.ace-cae.org or
Contact Alain Sagne, Secretary General of the ACE, e-mail: info@ace-cae.org