Between September 30th and October 2nd 2025, members of EurHeCA—the association bringing together competent authorities from various health professions and chaired by Pascale MATHIEU, President of the French National Council of Physiotherapists—met in Brussels for several sessions of discussion and work focused on the mobility of healthcare professionals.
On September 30th, the association’s members had the opportunity to visit the European Parliament’s hemicycle in Brussels and engage with the institution’s staff to learn more about its role, composition, and how it differs from national parliaments.
On October 1st, a meeting with Claudia LOUATI, Policy Director at the European Patients’ Forum (EPF), allowed for the sharing of EurHeCA’s and EPF’s priorities, emphasizing the importance for both organizations that EU policies on healthcare professionals’ mobility prioritize patient safety above all. On the same day, EurHeCA members also met with Per Erik STANGE, Policy Advisor for the EPP Group in the European Parliament, notably responsible for health-related issues. This exchange provided EurHeCA with the opportunity to reiterate that the realization of a true “European Health Union” must be based on healthcare professionals.
The program of the day also included a meeting of the association’s administration board, followed by EurHeCA’s General Assembly. On this occasion, Marianne BENOIT TRUONG CANH, Vice-President of the French Midwives’ Council, was unanimously elected Vice-President of EurHeCA. During the General Assembly, members finalized their position paper, stressing the need to place patient safety at the heart of EU policies on healthcare professionals’ mobility and highlighting several issues with some of the tools provided by the directive on the recognition of professional qualifications. A presentation was also given on the political situation within the EU institutions and institutional developments concerning issues of interest to EurHeCA members.
Finally, on October 2nd, EurHeCA members welcomed Agata WALASZCZYK-TERRASSE and Marios PAPANDREOU, representatives of the European Commission’s DG EMPL, for a constructive exchange on the implementation of the directive on the recognition of professional qualifications. EurHeCA members presented several concrete cases of dysfunctions in the tools provided by the directive, particularly regarding the alert mechanism. The European Commission also shared updates on its ongoing work related to topics of interest to EurHeCA members, including the revision of midwifery training and the potential adoption of a common European training framework for physiotherapists.
The next General Assembly of the association will be held online next spring.
