Mr Barnier Reply to Gabino Carballo and Original Letter to the Commission 2012

7/27/2019 Mr Barnier Reply to Gabino Carballo and Original Letter to the Commission 2012

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MICHEL BARNIER

Brussels,Ares D (2012/) 1330134

29 OCl. 2012

Dear Mr. Carballo,-Tllan\( you for your etter of4 September. I welcome your interest in the-modernisation of theProfessional Qualifications Directive. The Commission's proposal is currently being discussed inthe European Parliament. I encourage you to share your perspective with the Parliament'sMembers.Thank you also for your description of the situation of landscape architects in Spain. We areactually investigating allegations of failure by the Spanish authorities to guarantee the freedomof establishment in Spanish territory of landscape architects who obtained their qualifications inother Member States. The additional information you provide will be of interest to the team incharge of this investigation to whom I have transmitted your letter.In my role as Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, I am keen to oversee therealisation of a flexible and dynamic European single market. Free movement of professionals isan essential element of this vision. Therefore, I take any evidence of unjustified barriers toprofessional practice very seriously. Please rest assured the issues you raise will be thoroughlyscrutinised by my staff.Yours sincerely, S' l..ItJL'cJ,. v.V

Michel Barnier

Mr. Gabino CARBALLOES- Barcelona 08010SPAIN

Commission europenne - Ber110/034 - B-1049 Bruxelles - Belgique - Tel. : 00.32.2.29.50.990/00.32.2.29.50.949


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CARTAAMRHARBOUR20120625ENG.docx Pgina1

GabinoCarballo 20/08/2012

C/Casp47

Barcelona08010,SPAIN

Mr.MichelBarnierCommissioner

EuropeanCommission

RueWiertz

AltieroSpinelliBERL10/034

B-1049Brussel,

Blgica

RE:QualificationsDirectivemodernisationandLandscapeArchitectsqualificationsrecognitioninSpain.

DearMr.Barnier,

Asyouprobablyknow,agroupofindependentEuropeanLandscapeArchitectshavebeenwritingtovariousMEPsregarding

thepotentialinclusionofLandscapeArchitectureintheAutomaticrecognitionsystemanditsregulationatEuropeanlevel.

Wehavealsosentalettertoyourofficeconcerningthesamematter.WehavereceivedconsiderablesympathyandsupportfromvariousMEPs:TwoMembersoftheEuropeanparliamenthave

writtenquestionsregardingthesituationofLandscapeArchitectureinSpainandEurope,Mr.MarcTarabella,fromBelgium,

andMrs.AnaMiranda,fromSpain.

AndwehavealsoreceivedveryclearanswersyourofficeontheEuropeanCommissionsbehalf.

Iwouldliketo summarizethesituation ofqualified Landscape Architects(Paisajistas) inSpain, asdescribein our various

letterstoourrepresentativesinEurope:

Landscape Architecture academic and professional qualifications are treated as not valid for professional practice under

Spanish legislation. They cannot be converted to any equivalent qualifications in Spain, as Landscape Architecture is not

registeredandregulatedasaprofessioninSpain.

Landscape Architects with qualifications from countries where Landscape Architecture is a regulated profession are not

allowed to enter the professional services market. Neither are they allowed to use their professional title with the word

Architectinit.

These Landscape Architects are also barred from joining official professional bodies, and have therefore no official

professionalbodyrepresentingthembeforetheSpanishgovernmentandtheEU.

It also prevent them from attaining valid and sufficient professional liability insurance, entering into official contracts,

tenderingforpubliccontractsofservicesinthefieldofLandscapeArchitectureorvalidatinganyworkinaccordancewith

Spanishlegislation.

Many European professionals have found that the Spanish professional market to be inflexible, full of restrictedareas of

activityandheavilybiasedtowardsafewprofessions,totheexclusionofmanyothers,includingLandscapeArchitecture.

UndertheSpanishconstitutionalsystem,theSpanishgovernmenthasamonopolyondecidingwhatconstitutesaprofessionin

general,particularlythoseknownasregulatedprofessions.ProfessionalregulationinSpaindoesnotnecessarilycreate

areasofexclusiveprofessionalactivity(althoughitoftendoes),butitalwaysenablesprofessionalstodischargetheirlegal

obligationswithintheexistinglegalframework.

Unfortunately,absenceofprofessionalregulationisanimportantlimitingfactorintheSpanishprofessionalservicemarket,

sincenon-regulatedprofessionscannotcompetewithregulatedones.

UnderthelatestSpanishlegislation,aclientmayrequestatanytimeevidenceofprofessionalregistration(Colegiacin)and

askfortheprofessionalworktobevalidatedofficially( Visado).AlthoughSpanishacademictitleshavefullprofessionaleffects

fromthetimeofleavinguniversity,fullprofessionalpracticeissubjecttotheabilitytobelongtoanofficialprofessionalbody

(Colegio Profesional)upontheclientsrequest,forinstance.


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These Colegios act as an official professional register, validate the documentary integrity of the professionals work and

facilitateprofessionalswithProfessionalLiabilityInsurance,whichmaynotbeavailabletoprofessionalsthatdonotbelongto

aregulatedprofession

The creation of these professional bodies is subject to regulatory legislation grounded on the concept of public interest.

Furtherprofessionalregulationisalsofoundinvariouslawsthatdefinetherolesofprofessionalsinvariousareasofactivity.A

further form ofregulation isfound intheprocedures fortenderofpublic contracts,which oftenrequire the possessionofspecificprofessionalqualificationstotheexclusionofothers.

Anotherformofregulation(andaseriouslimitationtoprofessionalcompetition)isthesystematicuseoflegalappealsand

challengesbysomeprofessionalbodiesagainstanyattemptsbyclientsatopeninguptheprofessionalmarketbychoosingto

employaprofessionalfromawiderrangeofqualifications,suchasLandscapeArchitectswithEuropeanqualifications.

The procedures forconversion ofqualifications are cumbersome, slow,and bureaucratic in the excessand the results are

poor: as landscape Architects wanting to practice their profession are systematically asked to retrain as Engineers or

preferablyasArchitects,whichenjoyade factomonopolyonthisfieldofprofessionalactivity.

Spanishthelegalframeworkdefinestheexerciseofcertainprofessionalactivitiesasrestrictedtothoseprofessionals

holdingspecificacademicqualifications(suchasdraftingandmanagingprojects,orcarryingoutonsitesupervisionof

buildingworks).Onlyprofessionsenabledwithlegalprovisionsgoverningareasofactivitymayundertakethoseactivitieslegally.

ThereasonswhysomeprofessionsareregulatedinSpainandothersarenotarediscretionary.Publicinterestisanalleged

reason.Itisuncleartothewhysomeprofessionsareregulatedandwhyotherarenot.

The net effect is the creation of a number of professional monopolies endowed with specific areas of activitythatdonot

overlapandthatarenotexposedtoprofessionalcompetition.Largerprofessionsusetheirinfluencetolobbygovernmentsto

preservetheirprivileges.Theyalsouselargelegalteamstoprotecttheirinterestsbeforeinstitutions,oftenattheexpenseof

smallerprofessions.

ThissituationiscompoundedbySpanishpublicslaw, which makes it possible for Local Authorities to reserve certain

professionalactivitiesforcertainprofessionalqualificationsintheirtenderprocedures.Itisnotuncommoninpubliccontracts

tenderingprocedurestofindarequestforanEngineeroranArchitecttocarryouttaskssuchasdesigningawateringsystemorasmallplayground.

Thissituationseriouslyhamperslandscapearchitectsabilitytooperateintheprivatesectortoo:forprivatecontractsthat

involveanymajorworks,landscapearchitectsareforcedtoemployan Architect or Engineer to Validate the project.

Unfortunately,theythenbecomethelegalownersoftheprojectintheprocess,andtherelationshipbetweentheLandscape

ArchitectandtheClientislost.

Alloftheaboveprescribestheemergenceofnewprofessions,eliminatescompetition,makesamockeryofspecializationand

destroysprivateinitiative.PleasenoticethemassiveunemploymentlevelsamongstSpanishArchitectsandEngineers,which

isnowreachingalmost50%.Overprivilegedfordecades,theyhavehadlittlestimulustobeefficientandcompetitiveoncethe

Spanisheconomicsituationhasdeteriorated.

LandscapeArchitectswhodonothaveotherqualificationsrecognizedbytheSpanishstate,areinasituationofinjusticeand

arebeingdiscriminatedagainstonthegroundsofchoiceofprofessionandcountryoftraining.Theycanneithercompete,nor

converttoanotherprofessionwithoutfullretraining.Theyhavenotlegalavenuestoentertheprofessionalmarketandthe

Europeanlegislationisambiguousandunambitious.

Webelievethatthecurrentsituationisunacceptable.Ithasalreadylastedtoolong,anditisatoddswiththespiritofDirective

2006/123/EConservicesintheinternalmarket.Wehaveactedindependentlytotryandclarifyacourseofactionthatmay

enableustojointheEuropeanandSpanishprofessionalworkingmarketinconditionsequaltootherprofessionals.Forthat

reason, we have written to you and many MEPs.

WegreatlyvaluethequestionsposedbyMrTarabellaandMrs.Mirandaandwearegratefulforyourusefulrepliesonbehalfof

theCommission.

However,evenwhilstwaitingfortheCommissionsreplytothequestionsposedbyMr.TarabellaandMs.Mirandaregarding

thesituationofqualifiedLandscapeArchitectsinEurope,andourinabilitytohaveourprofessionalqualificationsrecognised

andhabilitatedforprofessionalpracticeinSpain,ithasemergedthattheEUcandolittletohelpus.


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ThedecisiontoacceptaprofessionalqualificationassuchappearstorelyentirelyontheSpanishGovernment,whichhasthe

righttoregulateprofessionsandamonopolyondecidingwhichprofessionalbodiesmayberecognised.Itistheirdecisionto

enablelegislationtothiseffect.

WeseetheproposalformodernisingtheProfessionalQualificationsDirectiveasagreatopportunitytochangethesituation.

However,wefearthatthismodernisationprocess,asitstands,willnotaddressoursituation.

Ourmainconcernsare:

a. WefearthattheDIrectivemayinfactmakeitworse,bycreatingatwotierprofessionalmarket,wheresomeprofessionswillenjoyfullrecognitionandmobilityacrossEurope,whilstotherswillberelegatedtoafragmented

secondarymarketthatwillbeuncompetitiveandpronetolocalmonopolies.

b. ThecreationofCommonFrameworks,mayleadtoafurtherfragmentationoftheprofessionalmarketandimpedetheentryofsomeprofessionsintonewmarkets.Theseplatformsarelikelytogeneratebarrierstocompetition,will

generateprofessionalandacademicmonopoliesandfacilitateinstitutionalcorruption.ProfessionalandAcademic

bodieswillgainexcessiveinfluenceuponprofessionalpractice.Thereisagoodchancethattheseplatformswillbe

usedtoexcludecertainprofessionalsfromtheirprofessionalmarkets,especiallytothebenefitofthelargeronesand

tothedetrimentofsmallerones.

c. Reducingthenumberofregulatedprofessional,assimilatingLandscapeArchitectureintoArchitectureorEngineeringforinstance,mayactuallyreducecompetitivenessanddiversity,forcingeveryEuropeanprofessionaltochoosefrom

fewacademicqualifications.ThisisnotisnotthewayforwardastheSpanishprofessionalmarketshows.Professional

specializationanddiversificationshouldbeanobjectiveoftheEUDirectives.

d. Professionsshouldhaveoverlappingareasofactivity,soastoforceinterprofessional,competitionandnotjustwithintheirownprofession.

e. ProfessionalOrganisationsdonotrepresenttheinterestsofmostprofessionals.Theyoftenactaspoliticallobbiesworkingforaprofessionalandacademicelite.Thetruthisthattheyseeklimitationstocompetitionbothwithinand

outsidetheprofession.Theywieldexcessivepoweroverprofessionalsandtheactasmonopoliesthemselves.Most

countrieshaveoneprofessionalbodyperprofessionandthesebodieshaveoftenlimitedaccountabilityand

transparency.Moreoftenthannot,itisnotpossibletooperateoutsidetheseprofessionalbodies.Someregulated

professionscanonlybepracticedbybelongingtothesebodies.

f. Largerprofessionsconditionthedebateaboutrecognitionofqualificationsontheirtermsandhampertheabilityofsmallerprofessionstooperatebyintroducingcomplexandbureaucraticproceduresforrecognitionofqualifications.

g. Wefeelthatitisimportanttoseparatethefunctionsoftheseprofessionalbodies:oneistheRegistrationofqualifiedprofessionals,andasecondistheRepresentationofprofessionals(orlobbying,infact)

LandscapeArchitectureisnotMedicineorArchitecture.Itisasmallandsimpleprofessiondealingwithrelativelysimple

constructiontechnologiesandlimitedriskstohumanhealth.Wedonotneedyearsandyearsofacademictraining,large

professionalbodieswithcomplexbureaucraticproceduresandlimitedgeographicremits.

Weneedflexible,simplesolutions,applicableacrossseveralcountries,withminimaladministrativepaperworkandthatrely

onastrongrelationshipwithclientsandconsumers,aboveall.

Inthisrespect,wehaveanumberofsuggestionstomaketotheCommission:

1. TheDirectiveshouldpushthroughtheprincipleofpartialaccessandspecificcriteriaforitsapplicationacrossEuropeandwithforcefulsuggestionsregardingtheirfinaleffects.Itisnotnecessarytocreateaninfinitenumberof

professionalsinEurope.Whatisneededisthateveryprofessionalwillingtoofferservicesacrossthecontinenthas

theopportunitytodosoinaclearandsimpleway.

2. Theonusondemonstratingaprofessionalsunsuitabilityfortenderingforprofessionalservicesshouldbeoneachnationstate,onacasebycasebasis,nottheotherwayaround.Forsimpleprofessions,suchasLandscape

Architecture,thereshouldbenoreallimitationstoprofessionalpractice.

3. Individualprofessionalsshouldbeabletomaketheirowndecisionsandfollowsimpleproceduresforrecognition,withoutintermediaries.Thepowerandinfluenceofprofessionalbodiesinthisprocessshouldbekepttoaminimum.

TheDirectiveshouldmakeprovisionsforthecreationofalternativeprofessionalbodiesacrossseveralEuropean

states.Professionalbodiesshouldnotbecomenationalmonopoliesthemselves.

4. TheCommissionwoulddowellinreinforcingtheroleofClients(notjustcostumers)inDirectives.Aclienthasadirectinvolvementinthedevelopmentofaspecificproductorservice,andassuchitmaywellbeinthebestpositionto


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determinewhatkindofprofessionalwantstoemploy.TheDirectiveshouldallowcertainInstitutionalorCorporate

Clientstorecogniseprofessionalqualificationsacrossthecountriestheyoperatebymeansofatransparentand

universalprocedurerelatedtoaProfessionalCardoraProfessionalRegister.

5. TheDirectiveshouldreinforcetheroleofindividualprofessionalsandtheirinitiatives.Itisimportanttosimplifyprocedures,structuresandenableprivateinitiatives.Webelievethatasimplewaytoenableaflexibleprofessional

marketacrossEuropeisthecreationofanEuropean Professional Registerwhereprospectiveclientswouldbe

abletoverifythequalificationsandsuitabilityofindividualsprofessionalsforundertakingLandscapeArchitecture

projectsatEuropeanlevel,irrespectiveofGovernmentalorLocalLegislationandProfessionalBodiesrestrictionsto

join.

ThisRegisterwouldbesimilartotheBritishArchitectsRegistrationBoard(ARB)andtheUSCouncilofLandscape ArchitecturalRegistrationBoards(CLARB).Bothensurethatprofessionalsaresufficientlyqualifiedtopractice,

whilstomittingtherepresentationalaspectsofprofessionalassociations,whichfalloutsidetheirremit.

Thisregistercouldbeorganisedasaself-fundingNonforprofitorganisation.Individualprofessionalsshouldbe

abletosignupforafee.Theservicesofferedbythisregisterwouldbe:

-Verificationofidentityandqualifications,bymeansofadatabase(compatibleand/orlinkedtoaprofessionalcard).

-DatabasedescribingtheminimumprofessionalservicesthateachprofessionwouldbeabletoofferineachEuropeanstate.

-InformationaboutProfessionalLiabilityInsurancerequiredforeachEuropeancountry.

-ClarifyingthestatusofprofessionalsacrossEurope,withregardstotheircontinuouseducation.

Thisregistershouldbecomeanimpartialbenchmarkandshouldoverrideanylegallocalrestrictionstooffering

professionalservices.ItshouldmakeitpossibletoworkacrosstheEUwiththesamelevelofprofessional

responsibilities,regardlessofthenationalityofprofessionalandtheirplaceofworkandresidence.

WeunderstandthatwearearrivinglateatthePublicConsultationontheRecognitionofProfessionalQualificationsDirective

anditmaybelateforyou,theCommission,ortheEuropeanparliamenttoconsideranyofourproposals.

However,wewouldlikeyoutoconsiderthefactthatwelacktherepresentationandassistanceofacompetentauthorityora

professionalbody.Wehopethatyouwillconsidertheconvenienceoftheseproposalsandtheirdevelopmentforinclusion

withintheProfessionalQualificationsDirective,eveninthislaterstage.

Ienclosesupportingdocumentation,includingLettersandDossierwithourmostrelevantdocumentsuptothisdateanda

PetitiontothePresidentoftheSpanishGovernment,Mr.MarianoRajoy,requestingthatLandscapeArchitecturebelegally

recognisedasaProfessioninSpain,andthatLandscapeArchitectsbehabilitatedtopractice.

Iappreciateyourinterestandyoursupportinthismatter.

Yourssincerely,

GabinoCarballo,

LandscapeArchitectCMLIqualified.

MasterinProjectManagement(BESBarcelona)

MAinLandscapeDesign(Sheffield)

Documents

Mr Barnier Reply to Gabino Carballo and Original Letter to the Commission 2012