Day of the Liberal Professions 2018

On 27 November (from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.) the Liberal Professions Category hosted an event related to the Day of the Liberal Professions in the European Economic and Social Committee's the Jacques Delors Building (Room JDE 51) in Brussels.

Liberal Professions 4.0: Sustainable Transformation of Professional Features was the main topic of this event, which aimed to gain fresh insight regarding a future-proof definition of the liberal professions in a digitalised professional world.

A high level of proficiency and competence, a strong sense of obligation towards the public interest (services closely connected to essential human needs such as life, health, safety, housing, quality of life, etc.), strict self-monitoring (professional regulation, ethical codes, disciplinary measures), personal responsibility and the independence of professional conduct from economic and other extraneous interests will be the focus of discussions.

The President of the Diversity Europe Group (Group III, EESC), Arno Metzler, opened the event. Based on the manifesto adopted last year at the liberal professions conference in Rome, a summary of achievements and action, entitled From Rome to Brussels, was also presented.

Three panel discussions concentrating on relevant topics in the area of the liberal professions took place.

  • Panel 1 – Moving away from the cliché of 'protectionism' and adapting the definition of 'public interest' to societal developments
  • Panel 2 – Does digitalisation change the essential needs of mankind and how does this affect the liberal professions?
  • Panel 3 – Restrictions on equity participation: no longer required or more necessary than ever? Investor interests versus professional requirements.

After this event, Group III President Arno Metzler and Spokespersons Marina Elvira Calderone and Rudolf Kolbe met with the President of the European Parliament Antonio TAJANI. They jointly discussed the next steps to infiltrate the common definition of liberal professions in the European law making process, in order to fully unfold their potential and thus improve the competitiveness of EU economy.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact e-mail Liberal Professions

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