The Council took note of information from the Commission on the outcome of a public consultation concerning the modernisation of the Professional Qualifications Directive. The consultation, which ended on 15 March 2010, collected stakeholders' views on major challenges for the reform of the system of recognition of professional qualifications, including:
The German delegation expressed interest on discussing the issue at a forthcoming Council meeting, highlighting the potential for removing barriers to mobility.
The reform of the system of recognition of professional qualifications as a means of facilitating mobility is one of the priority actions proposed by the Commission in the Single Market Act. A proposal from the Commission to prepare this reform is expected in the course of 2011.