Sister site EU Business provided the following article

The European Parliament and Council have approved simplified rules on the recognition of professional qualifications in Europe, which should make it easier for those working in certain professions such as medecine, dentistry and architecture to work in another EU country.
The directive amends 14 existing EU laws covering the recognition of diplomas and professional qualifications for general care nurses, dentists, veterinary surgeons, midwives, pharmacists, doctors and architects.

Once transposed into countries’ national laws, the new directive will force member states to take rapid decisions on requests for recognition of qualifications and to take account of professional experience gained in other EU states.

It will also speed-up the updating of lists of diplomas, certificates and titles eligible for automatic recognition within professions covered by the directives. The deadline for translation onto national statute books is 1 January 2003.

“This directive will make it easier for people wishing to work in regulated professions in another member state,” said Europe’s Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein.

Draft version of the directive this is in .pdf format which will require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader