Commissioner Mînzatu Seeks to Revise Midwives' Qualification Rules to Reflect Gender Equality and Health Advances

Updating Midwives' Training Standards

Commissioner Mînzatu has outlined plans to revise the EU rules governing the recognition of professional qualifications for midwives. The move aims to ensure that Directive 2005/36/EC better aligns with international standards and acknowledges the vital role midwives play in gender equality and women's health. This revision signals an impact on midwives themselves, the healthcare sector, national education bodies, and policymaking institutions concerned with labour mobility and professional standards.

A Parliamentary Call for Change

This response comes after a parliamentary question by Marko Vešligaj from the S&D group, who referred to the European Parliament’s 2025 resolution on the Gender Equality Strategy. Vešligaj queried what specific steps the Commission would take to adapt existing rules for midwives, highlighting a political push to bolster professional recognition with a gender equality lens.

Concrete Steps or Broad Promises?

The reply details a process grounded in legal frameworks. While Directive 2005/36/EC facilitates free movement of professionals via minimum training requirements, it does not fully harmonize education standards, leaving Member States responsible for their training systems and healthcare policies. The Commission plans to adopt a delegated act in 2026 to update midwives’ minimum training requisites based on a comprehensive 2025 study and stakeholder consultation. Importantly, this update will undergo scrutiny by Member States, the European Parliament, and public feedback stages.

The Commission's stance preserves national sovereignty over health education while nudging for EU-level adjustments to training standards where scientific progress warrants. This reflects a classical EU tension: increasing regulatory harmonization to support mobility and equality, versus respect for Member States' authority on professional training and health delivery.

Impacts on Stakeholders

Midwives could benefit from clearer, potentially raised training standards enhancing their professional status and mobility. Healthcare providers may see variations in skill sets as standards evolve. Member State authorities face the administrative challenge of implementing updated training frameworks. Meanwhile, patients and women’s health advocates might welcome improved care linked to enhanced midwifery education but will monitor practical impacts closely.

Next Steps in EU Policy Development

This answer signals that the Commission will formally propose updated regulations within the year, opening them to institutional review and public consultation. The process promises lively engagement, providing critical policy direction on the balance between EU integration and national education sovereignty in a sensitive health domain.