Recognition of professional qualifications of third-country nationals in the European Union: A comment

The regulation of the recognition of professional qualifications is an oft-overlooked and generally under-explored area of EU law. However, it is a vital facilitator of access to employment, particularly in respect of vulnerable groups such as third-country nationals. Since the 2015 European Migration Crisis, the recognition of professional qualifications of third-country nationals in the EU has attracted some significant political attention. This has recently culminated in two recommendations from the European Commission on people fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and third-country nationals more generally, as well as the Commission's proposal for a regulation establishing an EU Talent Pool. This note describes and analyses the current legal position in EU law, the specific rules applicable to third-country nationals and these recent developments.