PDQ report 130303

Fritz Auweck Report Professional Qualifications Directive

04.03.2013

Activities since GA in June in St.Petersburg -

July 2012 Meeting Dr.Jobi and representatives of French association FFP with Mrs. Bernadette Vergnaud, raporteur of EU parliament, presenting EFLA postionpaper and ACE postion paper.

- August 2012 Action in cooperation with ECLAS. Master letter including EFLA position was sent to all members of ECLAS and EFLA to enable them to send letters to national EU parliamentarians. No feedback about actions done.

- September 2012 Meeting at BAK office of liasion Brussels Mario Kahl, Fritz Auweck with successor of Mr.Jobi, Alexandra Nicklas and head of office Mrs. Prpic.

Update about process and further activities - November 2012 Call for IFLA Europe action on national level until 28.11.2012 to get in contact with national EU parlamentarians - January 2013 Contact with BAK office and receving material about results of consultation process, coordination about further actions  February 2013 Information from BAK office about results of IMCO meeting on 23.1.13 and discussion about further stepps and actions Article about PQD for german BDLA journal  March 2013 Information about final report of IMCO from BAK office Summarisied overview: Since spring 2010 IFLA Europe is engaging to reach better working conditions for Landscape Architects in Europe. IFLA Europe is engaging to influence to modification of the Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36 (PQD) in the sense of our profession. This is done within close cooperation with the office de liasion of Federal German Architects chamber (BAK) to which Landscapearchitects in Germany belong.

In content IFLA Europe has concentrated on two important main points: Article 49a: This article should offer the possibility based on „Common Education Frameworks“ for the profession of Landscape Architects (and other professions) to reach automatic recognition like Architects have already reached. Common Education Framework“ exists already for Landscape Architects, recognised by IFLA Europe and IFLA world. We Landscape Architects fulfill this important precondition but also other conditions. After the new PQD comes into force, IFLA Europe could apply at once for automatic recognition and start the process. During the consultation process in 2012 there was no doubt about article 49a in general, but the discussion was about the details. In the PQD proposal for example a precondition was that our profession has to be reglemented at least in 1/3 of EU member states. We believe

that we could reach this level, but not more. And the discussion was pending between 1/3 and ½. By the consultation we could reach that EU parliament kept the 1/3 regulation. But at the level of governments this is still in discussion.

A further important success was, that it was possible to keep the „five qualification levels“ of professions (Art.11) during the consultation process and not to relate them to the European Education Framework (EQF). Landscape Architects are in Art.11 related to the highest qualification level: e. The application of EQF would have caused a very close situation of qualification standards of Landscape Architects, Interior Architects and Urban planners to the master craftsman qualification. In Art.11 are in qualification level e those professions positioned, which have at least a four years study as precondition. This is also in the sense of IFLA Europe because four and five year studies are on equal terms.

Besides these two main points other issues which are relevant for our profession are now cleared:  Definition and arrangements for traineeship. At the moment still in discussion to change the naming from traineeship to professional experience or professional traineeship  Partial admission to profession  Professional card Further details about these points can be worked out if needed.

But now a view on the complexe procedure in which way european directives can be put in order. Three „players“ are configurating the process:  The European Commission (quasi the ministeries) She had worked out after a evaluation process and hearings of relevant organisations the draft version of the new professional qualifaications directive in december 2011.  The European parliament Lobbywork and working out modification applications by Eu parlamentarians was done all over the year 2012. IFLA Europe could get in contact with EU parlamentarians also under assistance from IFLA Europe delegates and could hand over IFLA Europe positionspaper and could explain the special needs of Landscape Architects. Until 15.10.2013 in total 723 modification applications were sent in. Until January 2013 those amendments were dicussed and reasonable compromises have been searched. On 23.01.2013 the Internal Market Committee (IMCO) has finally agreed on a new draft version which can be seen at the attitude (position) of the EU parliament.  Simultaneously national governments are discussing the draft of Professional Qualification Directive. The coordination is done between the responsible national ministeries. Amendments of the governments are written down in the so called „footnote paper“ which is continious updated. It can be expected that the governments are able to present a coordinated proposalpaper in march 2013.

Based on this three papers the „trilog-discussion“ between EU Commission, EU parliament and the council of governments will start. Participants will try to come to a conclusion during the term of EU presidency of Ireland in the first half-year 2013.

Afterwards the more formal voting in the EU parliament and the council has to be done.

It can be seen that endurance and ductility are necessary to reach in those complicated processes the goal. I want to thank Alexandra Nicklas from BAK office for her support.

What has IFLA Europe now to do? At the moment we can only monitor the process.

In case of dangerous messages if could be necessary to do lobby work with particular governments.

After the final votes in EU parliament and council we have to sort out in which way the implementation will be done and at which time IFLA Europe should start a application for Landscape Architects. This will be probably not before the end of 2013.