Recognising biomedical engineering within the Professional Qualifications Directive

20.7.2015

Question for written answer E-011612-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Lara Comi (PPE) , Nicola Caputo (S&D)

On 23 April 2015, the European Economic and Social Affairs Committee adopted an Opinion on promoting the European single market combining biomedical engineering with the medical and care services industry[1].

One of the key recommendations of this Opinion is that biomedical engineering should be included in Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications as a stand-alone discipline.

While the USA has made significant progress in developing biomedical engineering education and training opportunities (in 2012 and 2013 the profession of biomedical engineer came first in the Best Jobs in America rankings), the EU has not been able to establish uniform standards and rules in this field.

Does the Commission intend to help overcome this problem by heeding the opinion of the EESC and recognising biomedical engineering within Directive 2005/36/EC?

• [1] http://www.eesc.europa.eu/?i=portal.en.ccmi-opinions.32831