Parliament approved, in its first reading, a legislative initiative by the Ministry of Education and Research, under which the national legal framework governing the recognition of professional qualifications obtained abroad will be brought into line with European standards.
The bill implements a number of EU directives and aims to ensure consistency between national and European procedures for the recognition of professional qualifications. Thus, a person who has obtained a qualification in an EU member state will be able to practice the same profession in the Republic of Moldova, and persons who have obtained a qualification in Moldova will be able to benefit from the same principle in EU member states, subject to the conditions established by law.
The document also defines regulated professions within the Republic of Moldova in accordance with European requirements, which will facilitate the recognition of relevant qualifications in EU member states for the purpose of professional practice and professional mobility. In addition, vocational training within the national education system for regulated professions will be harmonized with the corresponding European qualifications.
The bill simplifies the process of recognizing qualifications and professional experience obtained abroad. Based on the principle that the recognition of qualifications applies equally regardless of the holder’s citizenship, the law also provides for the recognition of qualifications obtained in third countries, provided that the minimum training requirements for certain professions are met. At the same time, authorities will be able to establish their own procedures for recognizing qualifications obtained outside the EU by third-country nationals.
How This Will Work
Individuals whose professional qualifications are recognized will receive a European Professional Card from the host country—an electronic certificate confirming the recognition of their qualifications and allowing them either to provide services temporarily and periodically in the issuing country, or to establish and carry out their professional activities in that country. The bill also provides for the creation of a notification mechanism regarding restrictions on the practice of professional activities, which will subsequently be developed by the government.
The bill introduces a mandatory proportionality assessment prior to the introduction of new regulated professions or changes to existing requirements. The review will assess, among other things, the risks to service recipients—consumers, professionals, or other stakeholders—and will help ensure the proper functioning of the internal market, without limiting the right of member states to decide whether and how to regulate a particular profession, while respecting the principles of non-discrimination and proportionality.
According to the authors of the bill, the new rules will benefit several categories of people. Employers will have greater confidence in qualifications recognized on the basis of clear and regionally harmonized criteria; individuals will benefit from simplified procedures for the recognition of qualifications and professional experience, while educational institutions and training providers will gain international recognition and new opportunities to attract students from other European education systems.
The bill will be considered by Parliament in its second reading, and once adopted, it will enter into force on the day the Republic of Moldova joins the European Union.
