COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2015/983

of 24 June 2015

on the procedure for issuance of the European Professional Card and the application of the alert mechanism pursuant to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications(1), and in particular Articles 4a(7), 4b(4), 4e(7) and 56a(8) thereof,

After consulting the European Data Protection Supervisor,

Whereas:

(1) The procedure for issuance of a European Professional Card (EPC) and the application of the alert mechanism provided for in Directive 2005/36/EC is to be supported by the Internal Market Information System (IMI) established by Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council(2). It is therefore appropriate to provide rules on the procedure for issuance of EPC and on the application of the alert mechanism in the same implementing act.

(2) The Commission carried out an assessment, with the involvement of the relevant stakeholders and the Member States, on the suitability of introducing the EPC for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, mountain guides, real estate agents and engineers. Following that assessment the Commission has selected five professions (nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, mountain guides and real estate agents) for which an EPC should be introduced. The selected professions meet the requirements set out in Article 4a(7) of Directive 2005/36/EC as regards their current or potential mobility figures, their regulation in Member States as well as interest expressed by relevant stakeholders. The introduction of the EPC for doctors, engineers, specialized nurses, and specialized pharmacists needs further assessment in relation to their compliance with the conditions laid down in Article 4a(7) of Directive 2005/36/EC.

(3) In accordance with Article 12 of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 the online tool referred to in Article 4b(1) of Directive 2005/36/EC should be separate from the IMI and should not enable external actors to access the IMI. It is therefore necessary to provide for detailed rules on the procedure for submitting applications for an EPC via that online tool as well as the rules on receiving EPC applications in the IMI by the competent authorities.