Marcin Sypniewski, a Polish MEP from the Europe of Sovereign Nations group, has asked the European Commission whether it will amend Directive 2005/36/EC to create a shortcut for midwives to have their qualifications recognised as nurses, in a bid to address staff shortages and job losses in Poland.
The written question, tabled on 3 June 2026, highlights the closure of obstetric and gynaecological units in Poland, which has left thousands of midwives unemployed, while the healthcare system suffers from chronic nursing shortages. Sypniewski argues that midwives possess extensive skills, including postgraduate training in surgical and anaesthetic nursing, but face barriers to having these qualifications recognised in other nursing branches.
Specifically, the MEP asks whether the Commission will consider amending Article 31 of the directive to add a shortened training route — so-called bridge studies — that would allow midwives to obtain a qualification as a nurse responsible for general care, taking into account ECTS credits and professional experience. He also inquires what action the Commission is taking to facilitate recognition of partial qualifications and professional experience in the health sector, particularly in light of staff shortages across member states. Finally, he asks whether the Commission plans to analyse the impact of any such changes on patient safety and professional mobility of healthcare professionals.
The question does not set specific numerical targets or deadlines, but it signals a push for greater flexibility in the recognition of professional qualifications within the EU. The Commission is expected to reply within approximately six weeks; its answer will indicate whether it is open to amending the directive or prefers other measures to address labour mobility in healthcare.
Polish midwives stand to gain from easier career transitions; the Polish healthcare system could benefit from a larger pool of qualified nurses. However, patient safety groups may raise concerns about shortened training routes, and nursing associations in other member states might object to what they see as a dilution of standards.