IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012

The Internal Market Information system

IMI in the Netherlands

Jochem SprengerOffice of European Affairs

Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation

Outline• A short introduction of IMI in the Netherlands• Figures on requests from / to the Netherlands• Some background of the largest requesters• Some tips and tricks

Titel van de presentatie | 20 oktober 2010Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie2

National IMI Coordinator• Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation• Directorate General for International Relations• European Coordination unit

• Policy reactions on all European issues• Preparations for Council of Ministers (Competiveness Council,

Agriculture and fisheries, Energy, Telecommunications)• State aid control• Internal Market Teamo Internal market policyo Single Market Acto Solvit centre Netherlandso National IMI Coordinator

Titel van de presentatie | 20 oktober 2010Ministerie van Economische Zaken, Landbouw en Innovatie3

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation4

Why IMI?• In the beginning:- the European Union was small- Only relevant for Ministry of

Foreign Affairs- National governments knew each

other

• But now: 27 (almost 28) Member States

• The internal market is a reality in daily life.

• Practical benefits for citizens and entrepreneurs

The Netherlands, a little backgroundIMI has been linked to approxamately 600 competent authorities in

the Netherlands

• 139 regulated professions (65 on IMI)• 420 municipalities (all on IMI)• 12 provinces (all on IMI)• And the national government

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation5

The IMI structure in the Netherlands

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation6

Number of authorities

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012

Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation

7

Aantal aangesloten autoriteiten

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

BE

CY

DE

FI

GR

IE

LV

LU

NL

PL

RO

SK

CZ

SE Onder de beroepskwalificatie-

Onder de dienstenrichtlijn

Onder de detacheringsrichtlijn

Many under the services directiveBut a small under the Professional Qualifications directive

Number of questions (2011)

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012

Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation

8

Send Received

Summerasing:• The Netherlands has sent a lot requests, and has received a couple• Romania has received a lot requests, and has sent not that many

• In 2011: NL has sent 23 request to Romania (8% of all our requests).

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation9

Who are the largest request senders from the Netherlands to Romania?

1. NUFFIC (Kitty Wigleven)• National Contact point for PQ directive• Validates foreign higher education diplomas for people who want

to establish themselves in The Netherlands

2. COLO / SBB (Stan Plienaar)• National contact point for vocational training• Validates vocational diplomas • A lot of regulated training in NL

(and thus: many employers require that foreign education is vallued)

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation10

Who are the largest request senders from the Netherlands to Romania

3. CIBG (Centraal Informatie dienst voor beroepen in de gezondheidszorg / Centralised Information Service for Professions in the Health sector)

• Health professions (doctors, nurses)• Pharmacists• Veterinarians• Dentists

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation11

Other regulated professions in the NetherlandsProfession Competent authorityTeachers (primary + secondary schools) DUOProfessional divers Fire servicesArchitects Architecten register

• Landscape architects• City developers

Construction:• Crane operators Labour services• Construction explosive professions Labour services• Asbethos removers Labour services

Plantation detergents

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation12

But most activities are not regulated!

• Most Romanians in the Netherlands work in the construction sector, or in the agri-cultural sector

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation13

And what happens if you have a question about such professional?

• Who should you call?

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation14

Solution:

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation15

• Mail the IMI Coordinator! (NIMIC or LIMIC)

Improving replies

Dutch authorities are very grateful for your help!!! Great job!

• Requests are pre-set, so do not always reflect the exact question• So pre-set answer is not sufficient • Try to use free text as well!• Keep it short and simple

• Free texts are useful for requests as well

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation16

Boosting requests

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation17

• You do not have any foreigner before your desk?• In the Netherlands we use IMI for national situations too!

Certificate of Good Conduct

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation18

• In the Netherlands: a certificate of good conduct (Verklaring omtrent gedrag) is very often required.

• For Dutch people wanting to work in Rumania: a Certificate of Good Conduct could be asked by IMI (and for free, instead of for 45 euros).

IMI in the future: alarm mechanism

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation19

• If a doctor has been suspended from his profssional activities (for example because of malpractice) he could now move to another Member State and continue his work.

• IMI could prevent that: one notification to all Member States stating who is suspended in which country

• Hopefully also for teachers etc.

Questions?

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation20

Thank you very much

IMI in the Netherlands | 20 September 2012Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation21

Jochem Sprengerj.j.l.sprenger@mineleni.nl