How to assert your rights
SOLVIT network
Professionals having problems with the recognition of their professional qualifications in another EU country can contact the SOLVIT network in every EU country.
National courts and authorities
EU citizens who feel that their rights under European law were not respected may seek redress from the national courts or administrative bodies and/or through the arbitration and conciliation procedures available in the country concerned.
Note: only national authorities have jurisdiction to order the recognition of qualifications or the awarding of damages.
European Commission
Professionals may also complain to the European Commission, which is able to start an infringement procedure against EU countries and, as a last resort, to bring an action against the country concerned before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). However, this procedure is not as direct or personalised as steps taken at national level and may take a very long time.
For more information, see the application of EU law.
Court cases
See the list of recent infringement proceedings brought against EU countries and reports of cases before the ECJ relating to professional qualifications recognition:
Infringement cases
- 10 July 2014 – Commission asks Austria to fully comply with EU rules
- 16 April 2014 – Commission urges Cyprus, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg and Romania to fully implement EU rules
- 21 November 2012 – Commission acts to enforce freedom of establishment in the Czech Republic and Latvia
- 27 September 2012 – Commission acts to enforce freedom of establishment for notaries in Hungary
- 27 September 2012 – Commission acts to enforce freedom of establishment for lawyers in Luxembourg
- 26 April 2012 – Nationality condition for access to the notarial profession: the Commission closes the infringement proceedings against Greece, which has ended this discrimination
- 22 March.2012 – Nationality condition for notaries: Member States that have brought an end to discrimination see the infringement proceedings against them closed by the Commission
- 6 April.2011 – Commission asks Sweden to change its laws on the recognition of general practitioners qualifications
- 24 November 2010 – Commission requests Greece to end discrimination on nurses qualifications
- 24 June 2010 – Commission refers Luxembourg back to Court for failing to comply with common rules
- 18 March 2010 – Commission takes action to ensure that 12 Member States implement EU rules
- 28 January 2010 – The Commission formally requests that Spain amend its national legislation applicable to the profession of dental practitioner
Earlier infringements (archive) (309 KB)
Reports
- Report on the implementation of a revised professional qualifications directive (COM/2020/191) and accompanying Staff Working Document (SWD/2020/79) - May 2020
- Final report: Evaluation of the legal framework for the free movement of lawyers - November 2012 (3 MB)