Lawyers: practice of the profession on a permanent basis

The Commission's amended proposal incorporates Parliament's main amendments, in particular those concerning the permanent character of establishment under the home-country professional title and the replacement of the aptitude test by a verification procedure for professional qualifications. Also taken over were amendments concerning the alignment of salaried practice on Council Directive 77/249/EEC on the free provision of services by lawyers and consolidation of the host Member State's powers to oppose groupings controlled by persons outside the profession. However, the Commission was unable to accept the amendments which provided for the inclusion of Dutch 'procureurs', the exclusion of lawyers who have responsibilities within a government department, proof of honourability, and the obligation for the host Member State to exempt migrant lawyers from the requirement to join its social security scheme. �