Practising as an osteopath in the different Member States and compliance with the CEN European standard

2.6.2016

Question for written answer P-004580-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Frédérique Ries (ALDE)

Alongside acupuncture, homeopathy and chiropractic, osteopathy is, in most Member States, a ‘non-conventional’ medicine. In Belgium, for example, osteopathy has been governed by law since 1999, but it has not yet been granted official recognition by the authorities. With debates taking place at national level as to whether osteopathy should be given full conventional medicine status, a standardisation process has been set up at European level in an effort to establish a European standard for ‘services’ in osteopathy (CEN/TC 414).

1. Could the Commission state whether standard CEN/TC 414 is already being applied in some Member States? Is the Commission aware of any cases in which the standard falls foul of specific national rules and regulations?

2. Does the Commission yet have any figures it can share as regards the extent to which the common standard has spread around the Member States, in particular in terms of improvements in osteopathic diagnosis and in the treatments and care provided to patients?

3. From a broader perspective, does the Commission think that the example set by the UK — the first European country to fully recognise osteopathic medicine — is one that the rest of the EU should follow?