“The modernisation of Directive 2005/36 has been a huge policy window opportunity and EFN has made full use of it! We have now an EU legislation advancing the nursing profession in the years to come.”
(Paul De Raeve, EFN General Secretary, June 2013)
The modernisation of the Directive 2005/36/EC has been an extremely intense lobby process with EFN speaking out loudly for nurses and nursing.
The EFN members committed fully to provide the evidence to support this lobby process and at those moments things risked to go wrong, like the ENVI vote on 6 November 2012, the EFN members became way much stronger in convincing their national parliamentarians and governments to change immediately direction. More than ever, the united voice of nurses and nursing became stronger to speak up with one voice. The EFN members flew into Brussels to make sure their voice was heard in the many lobby meetings in the European Commission and European Parliament, and the ones who had the EU Presidency – Denmark, Cyprus, and Ireland – moved mountains in setting the Council agenda.
Not surprisingly, we can say with confidence: “Nurses have turned challenges into opportunities!!”
Yesterday, the three EU institutions have agreed in the final trialogue on the framework making major step forward increasing the minimum Directive requirements by adding highly formulated competences into Article 31 which provides a solid legal basis for the further development of the nursing education within the EU. With this modernised Article 31, linked to the Annexe V further to be designed through delegated acts, patients will receive care from a highly qualified nurse which benefits from mutual recognition of professional qualifications throughout the EU. Furthermore, delegated acts will also shape the common training frameworks which might represent a starting point for a new avenue for automatic recognition for nurse specialities and advanced roles.
Politicians now know who is a nurse and recognise the importance of the nursing profession in the EU healthcare systems. This is a great position prior to having a new Commission, upcoming European Parliament elections and appointing a new President of the Council.
Next steps:
– 27th June – COREPER
– 1st weeks of July – IMCO vote
Please contact Mr Paul De Raeve, Secretary General of the European Federation of Nurses Associations, for more information. Email: efn@efn.be – Tel: +32 2 512 74 19 – Web: www.efnweb.eu