As an illustration of the practical application of the Memorandum of Understanding between the EFO and FORE, representatives from both bodies held a joint briefing with European Commission official, Mr Jurgen Tiedje in October. Mr Tiedje has responsibility for EU legislation governing the recognition of professional qualifications, which affects the rights of osteopaths wishing to practise in different Member States.
Mr Tiedje was particularly interested in our experience of the Recognition of the Professional Qualifications directive, and we were able to highlight a number of patient safety concerns, based on the the lack of regulation of osteopathy across Europe and consequent inability of authorities to share information between Member States.
On information exchange, it was agreed that the Commission would extend its Internal Market Information (IMI) system to include osteopaths, to facilitate the sharing of data about registrants moving from one country to another.
Mr Tiedje was also interested to hear about the joint EFO/FORE project to develop a European scope of osteopathic practice and how this might help to promote mobility, as well as the potential collaboration with the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) to formalise osteopathic standards.The European Federation of Osteopaths (EFO) and the Forum for Osteopathic Regulation in Europe (FORE) held their fourth joint meeting in September, bringing together 17 osteopathic representatives from all over Europe.
To express a firm commitment to this increasing collaboration, a memorandum of understanding between the EFO and FORE was drafted, agreed and formally signed at the meeinting. This memorandum commits each organisation to share information about their respective work programmes and to carry out joint lobbying activity where this will facilitate the regulation of osteopathy as an autonomous profession across Europe.
Other items discussed included:
Progress of the joint EFO-FORE working group exploring the development of a European scope of osteoapthic practice. The group is expected to produce its first draft scope document in early 2010.
The formalisation of European osteopathic standards, through adoption by national standardisation agencies.
The potential merger of FORE and the EFO. It was agreed that each body would carry out a feasibility study to review the pros and cons of merging and possible alternative structures. Both groups would report by Autumn 2010.