WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1743/98 by Marie-Paule KESTELIJN- SIERENS to the Commission. Non-conventional medicine
C 386/156 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 11. 12. 98 Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (3 July 1998) The Commission communication Adapting and promoting the Social Dialogue at Community levelí (1), adopted on 20 May 1998, does not provide for the replacement of the joint committees by wider structures. On the contrary, the Commission proposes to maintain and even strengthen the sectoral dimension within the framework of the new sectoral dialogue committees. The proposal aims at ensuring a more efficient and flexible sectoral social dialogue, with greater responsibility given to the social partners in line with the principle of autonomy of the social partners. (1) COM(98) 322. (98/C 386/214) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1743/98 by Marie-Paule Kestelijn-Sierens (ELDR) to the Commission (5 June 1998) Subject: Non-conventional medicine In his speech to the European Parliament on 28 May 1997 on the harmonization of non-conventional medical practice between the Member States, Commissioner Flynn indicated that the general system of recognition of diplomas, in force for several years, already ensures the free movement of medical practitioners between Member States which recognize non-conventional medicine as a discipline distinct from conventional medicine. Would the European Commission now please supply: 1. 2. 3. an exhaustive list of the Member States which recognize non-conventional medicine as a discipline distinct from conventional medicine; lists, names and/or descriptions, where appropriate, of diplomas in non-conventional medicine recognized in the Member States of the European Union which, under the general system of diploma recognition, ensure the free movement of practitioners holding such diplomas; the legislation governing non-conventional medicine in those Member States in the European Union which have made such medicines official. Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (28 July 1998) The general system of diploma recognition to which the Honourable Member refers › namely Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988 on a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three yearsí duration (1) and Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 on a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EEC (2) › does not seek to harmonise Member Statesí legislation relating to the professions but leaves it to them to lay down rules governing training and the conditions of access to, and exercise of, such activities. Provision has not been made for Member States to communicate all their national legislation relating to the regulated professions in the eleven Community languages › legislation which is, moreover, changing in the Member States › and this is not essential for the general system of diploma recognition to function. A detailed answer to the Honourable Memberís questions would necessitate lengthy and laborious research which the Commission is unable to undertake. (1) OJ L 19, 24. 1. 1989. (2) OJ L 209, 24. 7. 1992