06-10-16 Nikos Filis explains procedures for certifying professional qualifications

Education Minister Nikos Filis told parliament that the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs is focusing its efforts on tabling proposals at future meetings of the Council of Recognition of Professional Qualifications (SAEP) within the autumn, so as to review pending applications filed in 2015, regarding the first examination for recognition of professional qualifications.

In a written response to a parliamentary question tabled by New Democracy MP Nikitas Kaklamanis, Filis said that between 1 January 2012 and March 1, 2015, a total of 2,658 applications were submitted for recognition of professional qualifications and recognition of professional parity.

The text of the Education Minister’s response follows:

The Council of Recognition of Professional Qualifications was established by Presidential Decree 38/2010 (Government Gazette 78 Α) and operates in accordance with the Code of Administrative Procedure. The last amendments to the legislation on the creation and operation of SAEP are the following:

Article 54, Paragraph 1 of Law 4386/2016 (Government Gazette 83 Α’) now provides that: “A Counselor of the State Legal Council serves as president of SAEP. In the case that the President faces a conflict of interest, he is replaced by a member of the Council, who is appointed ad hoc upon the order of the President.”

Article 54, Paragraph 2 now states: “Rapporteurs before the Council are selected from among the personnel of the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs, with the approval of the General Secretary of Lifelong Learning and Youth, pursuant to the recommendation of the Supervisor of the department under which SAEP operates. The rapporteurs develop their recommendation and depart.”

The deadlines for the review of applications, in accordance with Presidential Decree 38/2010 do not alter the provisions of the Code of Administrative Procedure (articles regarding collective organs) . Any change in the representative of the Ministry who participates in SAEP impedes the convening of the Council until the relevant Ministerial Decision is issued. The amendment to the establishment of SAEP is a necessary action to ensure the lawful operation of the collective organ.

SAEP first reviews applications for recognition of professional equivalence and applications for recognition of professional qualifications. The review of the application/file, informing applicants of the absence of documentation or of officially certified and translated degrees or of analytical grades, as well as drafting the recommendation, placing the application on the daily review list, and the final review and drafting of the final recommendation to SAEP, is not merely procedural work

 At the same time, SAEP examines ostensibly legal challenges against its decisions filed by applicants whose application was rejected in the previous session, as well as cases postponed from the previous session.

In addition, SAEP reviews applications for recognition of professional qualifications following the completion of internships, in accordance with its previous decision.

The volume of all of the above application files is very large and is continually increasing.

Specifically, 2,658 applications for recognition of professional qualifications and for recognition of professional parity were filed between 1 January 2012 and March 1, 2015.

 Finally, we note that the Ministry of Education, Research and Religious Affairs is focusing its efforts on tabling proposals at future meetings of the Council of Recognition of Professional Qualifications (SAEP) in the autumn, so as to review pending applications filed in 2015, regarding the first examination for recognition of professional qualifications.