Updates to the EU Directives on Professional Qualifications must align with global standards

Abstract

The European Union (EU) Directive on Minimum Professional Qualifications: Midwife is under review as part of an ongoing regulatory update. This revision presents a critical opportunity to modernise the regulation of midwifery education and practice across the EU and EEA, having implications that extend beyond the region, given the EU’s role in influencing professional regulation globally. We argue that updates to the Directive must be aligned with current scientific evidence, Global Standards for the profession, and relevant World Health Organization guidelines. Aligning the Directive with these evidence-based standards is essential to ensure high-quality care, enable midwives to practise to their full scope, support workforce mobility, and strengthen health systems across Europe.