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Benelux countries to recognise each other’s degrees

10:55 12/12/2014

Belgium's labour minister, Kris Peeters, intends to sign an agreement in the new year with his counterparts from Luxembourg and the Netherlands, under which any one of the three countries will automatically recognise a higher education diploma obtained in one of the other countries.

This week, Peeters, Luxembourg minister Nicolas Schmit and Dutch minister Lodewijk Asscher signed an agreement to work on a more fluid cross-border labour market in the Benelux.

At present, obtaining recognition for a diploma in another country is a time-consuming process, and procedures for working over the border are complicated. About 300,000 people cross the borders of the Benelux, France and Germany each day to work – only 1.2% of total employment in those areas.

The ministers see great potential for growth in cross-border employment through the elimination of some of the challenges job seekers face and by making it easier for employers to hire them. “We are missing employment opportunities in border areas such as Limburg, despite a high level of unemployment there,” Peeters said. “The Benelux and adjoining regions has 37% of all cross-border commuters in the EU, and the phenomenon offers us chances we have to be able to grasp.”

The three ministers also gave their backing to a better information campaign for anyone thinking of applying for a job over the border, starting with a new website.

photo, from left: Nicolas Schmit, Lodewijk Asscher and Kris Peeters signed an agreement to work on a more fluid cross-border labour market in the Benelux

©Labour ministry

 

Written by Alan Hope

Comments

Mikek1300gt

It would be better if they could recognise proven skills.

Dec 12, 2014 18:19
Mikek1300gt

Ah, you are a media studies degree holder from Belgium?b Welcome to the unemployed of Luxembourg!

Dec 12, 2014 18:55