EU Launches Action Against Austria Over Regulatory Failures

EU Launches Action Against Austria Over Regulatory Failures

Image: Vertretung der Europäischen Kommission in Österreich/APA-Fotoservice/Juhasz

 

The European Commission announced on Monday that it is launching an infringement procedure against Austria for failing to comply with EU regulations on the recognition of professional qualifications.

Austria, along with other affected EU states, now has two months to address the issues. If the Commission does not receive a satisfactory response, it may issue a reasoned opinion as the next step in the procedure. A reasoned opinion is a formal request for compliance with EU law.

The other countries involved are Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Finland and Sweden.

EU rules on the recognition of qualifications are meant to make it easier for professionals to work temporarily in different member states. However, member states can require checks for certain professions, especially those that impact public health and safety. The Commission has raised concerns that Austria, along with 21 other states, has imposed these checks unfairly on several professions that don’t meet the criteria for such checks.

Austria will also receive an additional letter for not properly implementing the Free Movement Directive, which guarantees rights to the extended family members of EU citizens. The Commission criticised Austria for not extending the same rights to non-EU family members, such as the right to work immediately, as required by the directive.

Furthermore, due to Austria’s incorrect implementation of the Data Governance Act, the country now faces the prospect of legal action before the EU Court of Justice. This law aims to simplify the sharing of data across sectors and EU member states. The Commission has given Austria and other countries two months to fully implement the regulation, or they may face legal action before the EU Court of Justice.

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