In a significant milestone for higher education in Europe, the Multilateral Treaty on Automatic Recognition of Qualifications was celebrated in a ceremony at the Residence Palace in Brussels. The event marks the formal entry into force of the treaty on 1 May 2024, strengthening the legal framework for smooth and consistent recognition of higher education qualifications and thus enhancing mobility across the Benelux and Baltic regions.
The treaty, ratified by Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, guarantees that higher education degrees (bachelor, master, PhD) obtained in one of the signatory countries are automatically recognised in the other participating countries, thus simplifying the administrative process and removing obstacles when studying or working in another treaty country. This achievement was commemorated with a celebratory event hosted by the Benelux and Baltic Ministers, alongside the General Secretariat of the Benelux Union.
Mr Frans Weekers, Secretary General of the Benelux Union, welcomed attendees and highlighted the treaty's significance in promoting cross-border education and professional opportunities.
A dialogue led by Deputy Minister of Education Ms Agnė Kudarauskienė (Lithuania) featured insights from Mr Horia Onița (European Students’ Union) Ms Helene Peterbauer (European University Association) on the benefits and remaining challenges of automatic recognition in higher education. Mr Villano Qiriazi (Council of Europe), Ms Vanessa Debiais-Sainton (European Commission), and Mr Borhene Chakroun (UNESCO, via video message) shared their perspectives on the treaty’s impact and the path forward for broader implementation.
In his address, Mr Villano Qiriazi, Head of the Education Department at the Council of Europe, underscored the added value of the Treaty, focusing on three main points:
Emphasizing the Council of Europe’s "Learners First" initiative, Mr Qiriazi highlighted that the Treaty strengthens the right to quality education, making it actionable rather than merely aspirational.
The Treaty complements the Lisbon Recognition Convention, managed jointly by the Council of Europe and UNESCO, which promotes fair recognition of qualifications. The Treaty through its legally sound structure introduces clarity into the realm of automatic recognition and provides a robust framework to guide its implementation for member states.
Looking ahead, Mr Qiriazi stressed the importance of fostering mutual trust and respect for quality assurance among signatory countries and presented other related initiatives developed by the Council of Europe. He expressed the commitment of the Organisation to further collaborate with the Benelux Secretariat and other stakeholders to promote best practices and ensure the Treaty's principles are widely adopted.
