Process to Update the EU Directive on Midwifery Underway: Urgent Advocacy Needed
Over the past few months, stakeholders across the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) – 31 countries in total – have been participating in stakeholder feedback on potential updates to the EU Directive on the Recognition of Professional Qualifications for Midwifery (Directive 2005/36/EC).
To do this work, the European Commission has commissioned a study to decide:
- Are changes to the Directive needed, in light of technical and scientific advancements in the profession of midwifery, and
- If so, what should these changes be.
This is a historic, generational opportunity to make changes in the EU Directive that regulates the minimum standards for midwifery (Directive 2005/36/EC).
The Process
A consultancy company called Spark Legal and Policy Consulting was awarded the tender. Through this process, they have been in contact with midwives’ professional associations, educators, regulatory and registration bodies, collecting information about advancements in the profession. In February 2024, ICM also provided feedback in the process, with a detailed description of technical and scientific advancements in the profession, and suggested changes to the Directive in alignment with these and ICM standards like the Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice. In addition to national stakeholders and ICM, we are in contact with the European Midwives’ Association (EMA) and the European Forum of National Nursing and Midwifery Associations (EFNNMA), who have also participated.
In October, Spark shared their draft report and invited stakeholders to a live-steamed workshop in Brussels to provide feedback. ICM’s was represented at the workshop by Daniela Drandic, who coordinated ICM’s response in February. She was invited to give a keynote presentation. Spark’s draft report can be found on their website (see Discussion Paper) as can a recording of the workshop.
ICM’s Concerns
At ICM, we are concerned that the changes that the consultants at Spark are proposing to the Directive serve no practical purpose and do not reflect the technical or scientific advancements in our professions. Among in-person workshop participants, there was a general consensus that the problems in Spark’s draft proposal of updates have largely arisen because of the methodology chosen by the consultants, and the fact that they have not included any of ICM’s Global Standards in their draft report.
Next Steps and Urgent Advocacy
There is currently an opportunity for midwives’ associations, midwifery regulators and educational institutions in EU/EEA countries to provide feedback on Spark’s draft proposal of updates to [email protected] by 08 November 2024 at the latest. ICM has collaborated with EMA and EFNNMA to create a draft template response that we are encouraging stakeholders to send to Spark before the end of the feedback period. All ICM member associations have received this template by email; if you would like to participate and you have not received the template, you can find more information and links in the short explainer video we have prepared (see links in the video description).
We strongly encourage all midwives’ associations, regulatory bodies and educational institutions to participate in the feedback process. Together, our voices are stronger and louder. Together, we can advocate for updates to the minimum standards for midwifery education in alignment with technological and scientific advancements in our profession, for the advancement of midwifery and women’s health and rights across Europe.
