The EU's committee of permanent representatives (Coreper) today endorsed an agreement between the Bulgarian presidency of the Council and European Parliament negotiators on a directive that will require EU member states to carry out a proportionality test before establishing new requirements for professions.

Europe needs a Single market for services. It is crucial to eliminate any unjustified barriers to the right of citizens to choose an occupation, conduct a business or provide services across the EU. A systematic and standardised check prior to the adoption of new provisions for regulated professions will help protect these fundamental principles of the internal market. Krasimir Valchev, Minister for Education and Science of Bulgaria

The directive will improve transparency in the way certain professions are regulated in the member states. It will ensure that national measures are proportionate, and that they do not unduly restrict access to professional activities or create unjustified burdens in the internal market.

When regulating professions, member states will have to assess whether new or revised rules are justified by public interest objectives.

The future directive, which still needs endorsement by the Parliament and the Council before becoming law, will harmonise the way in which these proportionality tests are carried out and the criteria that will be applied.

The obligation to carry out a proportionality test before introducing new regulation of professions will complement the existing provisions of the Professional Qualifications Directive.

This directive is a part of the "Services package". The Services package, published on 10 January 2017, contains the following legislative proposals:

Proposal for a services e-card

Proposal for a services notification procedure

Proposal for a proportionality test before adoption of new regulation of professions

It also includes guidance on reform recommendations for regulation of professional services.