Higher education: general system for the recognition of diplomas (Direct. 89/48/EEC). Report

In adopting the report by Mrs FONTAINE (PPE, F) on the mutual recognition of higher-education diplomas, Parliament congratulates the Commission on its work in connection with its report and acknowledges that significant progress has been made in this area since the general recognition system was implemented. However, it points out that there are still difficulties in certain sectors and therefore calls on the Commission to continue its task of persuading certain Member States and educational establishments. In particular it draws attention to the fact that over 100 petitions have been submitted since the directive came into force and it calls on the Commission to be vigilant in considering these complaints. For its part it takes the view that these increasing difficulties appear to be the result of incomplete transposition of the legislation in the Member States and an absence of a precise definition of higher education. Also noting that migrant workers do not know how the general recognition system works, Parliament calls for further discussions on this point between the Commission and the Member States' authorities and for greater transparency at all levels. Parliament also condemns the contradiction which lies in saying that the directive can apply only to Community nationals, even though it includes provisions relating to qualifications partly acquired in third countries. Pending the Commission's 1999 review of the general system laid down in Directive 92/51/EEC, it calls on the Commission to submit to Parliament, as soon as possible, limited amendments, particularly to article 4, in order to improve the present system. Noting that the numerus clausus rule in force in certain Member States of the Union may, with the development of Community mobility, eventually pose a problem, it calls on the Commission to undertake a study of this subject. �