No L 33/8 Official Journal of the European Communities 11. 2. 80 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 21 January 1980 concerning the coordination of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to the taking up and pursuit of the activities of midwives (80/155/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 49, 57 and 66 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas, under Article 57 of the Treaty, the provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to the taking up and pursuit of the activities of midwives must be coordinated; whereas it is necessary for reasons of public health to move within the Community towards a common definition of the field of activity of the professional persons concerned and of their training; whereas it has not been thought desirable to impose to that end a unified training programme for all Member States; whereas they should on the contrary be allowed the greatest possible freedom in organizing training; whereas the best solution is therefore to lay down minimum standards; Whereas the coordination of these activities, as envisaged by this Directive, does not exclude subsequent coordination; Whereas, as far as training is concerned, most Member States do not at present distinguish between midwives who pursue their activities as employed persons and those who are self-employed; whereas for this reason it appears necessary to extend the application of this Directive to employed midwives, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 1. Member States shall make the taking up and pursuit of midwifery activities under the titles referred to in (1) OJ No C 18, 12. 2. 1970, p. 1. (3 OJ No C 101, 4. 8. 1970, p. 26. (3) O] No C 146, 11. 12, 1970, p. 17. Article 1 of Directive 80/154/EEC (4) conditional on the possession of a diploma, certiticate or other evidence of formal qualifications in midwifery as listed in Article 3 of the said Directive, guaranteeing that the person concerned has acquired during the total duration of training: (a) adequate knowledge of the sciences on which the activities of midwives are based, particularly obstetrics and gynaecology; (b) adequate knowledge of the ethics of the profession and the professional legislation; (c) detailed knowledge of biological functions, anatomy and physiology in the field of obstetrics and of the newly born, and also a knowledge of the relationship between the state of health and the physical and social environment of the human being, and of his behaviour; (d) adequate clinical experience gained in approved institutions under the supervision of staff qualified in midwifery and obstetrics; (e) adequate understanding of the training of health personnel and experience of working with such personnel. 2. The training referred to in -paragraph 1 shall comprise: — either a full-time course in midwifery comprising at least three years of practical and theoretical studies, admission to which is subject to completion of at least the first 10 years of general school education, — or a full-time course in midwifery lasting at least 18 months, admission to which is subject to possession - of a diploma, certificate or other evidence of formal qualifications of nurses responsible for general care referred to in Article 3 of Directive 77/452/EEC (5). 3. The course in midwifery provided for in the first indent of paragraph 2 shall cover at least the subjects of the training programme set out in the Annex. (4) See page 1 of this Official Journal. (5 OJNo L 176, 15.7.1977, p. 1.