Learn more about this specific CBC activity: issue - icon sol - icon
 Learn more about other CBC activities in the same field: issue - icon obst - icon sol - icon

 

What was the core OBSTACLE in undertaking the activity?

This project is designed to address the problems of the recognition of Vocational Training (VT) certificates between Galicia and the north region of Portugal. This extends to the whole of Spain and Portugal and to the whole of Europe. The ENIC-NARIC network (European Network of Information Centres – National Academic Recognition Information Centres) understands that the recognition of Vocational Training certificates in Europe is a time-consuming process, where the decision of the evaluators can take up to five months.

This has economic consequences for the applicants and the application process can be different in different countries and for each profession/trade. This obstacle hinders labour mobility, discouraging workers to move to another country, unsure that their qualifications will be recognized in other countries. This obstacle results in that foreign workers cannot compete under the same conditions with national workers in the domestic labour market.Not having a recognized certificate has two main implications.

  1. Foreign workers will not be allowed to enter an occupation if his/her chosen profession is regulated ( for example medicine, veterinary, public administration, mechanical technician, tour guide, town gas fitter or plumber, etc.).
  2. If the applicant does pursues a non regulated profession, where recruitment depends on the employer, the applicant will be in disadvantage respect to domestic workers due to the lack of recognition, which in practice means not obtaining a position matching their qualifications or accepting a position with lower wages and/or lower rank.
Which were the main CAUSES of the OBSTACLE? Same as above
Which were the main EFFECTS of the OBSTACLE?

One of the major failures of the European labour market is the lack of worker cross border mobility. This problems lead to differences in unemployment rates between countries. There are cultural and linguistic differences that contribute to this, but one obstacle is the lack of cross border recognition of qualifications which is especially a problem in border regions.
This obstacle has been addressed for higher education qualifications throughout the European Higher Education Area, which has improved labour mobility ratios of university graduates. But, despite the Directives 89/48/EEC and 92/51/EEC and the European Qualifications Framework for lifelong learning, there is a notable absence of a system of automatic evaluation and recognition for non-university qualifications, especially in the case of vocational training.Currently there is no common procedure where certificates obtained in one EU country are officially recognized in the other EU countries.

Currently recognition of qualifications are resolved on a case by case basis in accordance to each country’s protocols depending on the profession. This is inefficient, costly for applicants and the process could take several months. These administrative obstacles regarding mobility results in that workers in the Galacia/North Portugal, a region of high unemployment, do not consider working across the border. Those that do try to apply for positions across the border, despite the spirit of the European legislation, find themselves at a disadvantage compared to national applicants and find find themselves accepting lower paying positions below their qualifications. This results in an informal economy, where employers are not fully complying with labour legislation.

The Galcia/North Portugal border region has a high level of socio-economic exchanges. The average daily vehicular traffic for this region represents 50% of the all cross border exchanges. Twenty-two percent of Portuguese companies import goods and services from Galicia, and Galicia was the fifth most important global partner of Portugal in 2010.  Data from EURES states that between 5,000 and 10,000 people cross the border daily to work on the other side (EURES 1997-2008), in addition to permanent residents. This figure is really is small compared to the 6,000,000 inhabitants of this Euroregion and being aware of the great business relationship between the two regions.

It is clear that the labour market is not at the same level of other socio-economic exchanges. Some of this is due to administrative obstacles and the added difficulty of obtaining equivalent vocational training certificates. A process of automatic recognition of certificates will facilitate labour mobility resulting in a greater degree of dynamism of the labour market. This would help to connect workers and employers, adapting people to the requirements of the labour market and adapting jobs based on worker qualifications. With a more efficient  recognition process in place the most qualified workers could be matched with positions throughout this Euroregion and help to reduce the unemployment rate. It will increase the competitiveness of the region, improve working conditions, and increase the business potential of this Euroregion. In addition to positive effects in the labour market, labour mobility is one of the main factors for cohesion and integration in cross border regions.

Please, describe briefly the factor(s) which mostly (3-4) aggravated the persistence of the Obstacle

The regions of Galicia and the North Portugal are both peripheral territories at both the national and European level, distant from the capitals of both countries which contributes to their economic isolation.  Both Spain and Portugal have high unemployment rates, the largest in Europe, which reflect a depressed labour market, especially in the case of youth, with youth unemployment rates reaching up to 37.6% in Galician youth and 28.5% in Northern Portugal. There is a pressing need to improve and revitalize the labour market, exploiting the potential advantages of cross-border regions.Politically, there are differences in regards to education and Vocational Training competence.

The Galician Government is responsible for the evaluation and recognition of Vocational Training certificates. In the case of Portugal, the regional administrations do not have these responsibilities and it is the IEFP which has the responsibility which reports directly to the Ministry of Economy and Employment of Portugal. Therefore, an agreement between the North Portugal region and Galicia, ould be an agreement between Galicia and the whole of Portugal.

Addionally the similarity between the processes in Galicia region and the rest of Spain, would make possible a fast adaptation of agreements reached between the two regions at national level, promoting the implementation of this initiative across the whole border. Exchanges between these two regions are helped by the similarity of Portuguese, Spanish, and Galician. Currently there are very good interrelationships in the sectors of building, shipbuilding the auto industry, livestock farming, winemaking and in the tourism sector.

Institution European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation Galicia – Norte Portugal (GNP-EGTC)
Contact details St. Eduardo Cabello s/n(CETMAR building), Bouzas 36208 Vigo (Pontevedra) – SPAIN Telephone:+34986135126FAX:+34986248613

E-mail: gnpaect@gnpaect.eu

Year of record 2012