Doctors: free movement and mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and others formal qualifications

In its amended proposal, the Commission took over most of the amendments put forward by the European Parliament at first reading, particularly those aimed at: - highlighting the existence of the interinstitutional modus vivendi relating to comitology mentioned in the preamble to the directive; - clarifying the nature of the authority granted to the Commission by stating that the Commission could amend the list of designations and the list of the minimum lengths of training courses for doctors mentioned in the directive. However, the Commission did not accept the EP's amendment aimed at ensuring that before a matter was referred to the Committee of Senior Officials on Public Health, the Commission should consult both the Standing Committee of European Doctors (which, according to the Commission, was a private professional organisation which could not be consulted in this respect on a compulsory basis) and the Advisory Committee on Medical Training. This situation would place an additional burden on the consultation procedure and distort Decision 87/373/EEC, which established the rules on comitology in relation to this matter, by adding an additional and unnecessary stage. In any case, where necessary the Commission could consult these bodies if their opinion was deemed to be of use. Similarly, the Commission did not accept the amendment calling on the Commission to give greater consideration to the question of nationals of Member States holding qualifications awarded in third countries. This amendment served no purpose in the current proposal. �