Brussels Moves to Ease Recognition of Non-EU Qualifications

The European Commission this week proposed new legislation aimed at making the recognition of professional qualifications easier for non-EU citizens, according to The Local Italy. The measure addresses a complaint long voiced by people who have moved to the bloc from outside it and found their credentials unrecognised.

Under the current patchwork, a doctor, engineer or teacher trained outside the EU can wait months or years for a national authority to rule on whether their diploma counts. The Commission's proposal would set common procedures across member states.

The change would matter most in sectors where the EU faces persistent shortages — healthcare, engineering and the skilled trades — and in border regions that draw on non-EU labour.