On 28 April 2026 in Chisinau, the Council of Europe in co-operation with the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, organised an awareness raising event on the topic “Supporting Refugees’ Participation in Higher Education and Labour Market -European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR) as an international instrument to address national challenges”.
Organised under the Presidency of the Republic of Moldova of the Council of Europe, the event brought together over 100 representatives of public authorities, higher education institutions, ENIC-NARIC centres and other stakeholders to discuss challenges and solutions related to the recognition of qualifications held by refugees, particularly in cases of missing or incomplete documentation.
The event was opened by Ms Galina Rusu, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, Mr Falk Lange, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chișinău, and Ms Inga Botnari, Head of Section, Council of Europe and Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who underlined the importance of coordinated action to support the integration of refugees through education and skills recognition.
Particular emphasis was placed on the role of the Republic of Moldova, which has demonstrated strong solidarity with Ukraine by accommodating a significant number of refugees relative to its population and by taking concrete steps to facilitate their access to education and the labour market.
The event also benefited from the contribution of Ms Katja Saha, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who highlighted ongoing efforts to support Ukrainian refugees in Moldova, encountered challenges and solutions found.
The President of the Lisbon Recognition Convention Committee Allan Bruun Pedersen highlighted the role of the Lisbon Recognition Convention as the only legally binding instrument in Europe ensuring fair recognition of qualifications, including those of refugees. ENIC President Chiara Finocchietti stressed the key role of the ENIC-NARIC networks in ensuring transparent and consistent recognition procedures across Europe. Participants also examined the practical application of the EQPR as a tool enabling refugees to pursue further studies or employment opportunities, as well as its impact on national systems.
Representatives of the Council of Europe Education Department (Catherine Dolgova Dreyer and Samir Hećo) contributed to the programme by presenting the Council of Europe ongoing work on the recognition of refugees’ qualifications and competences, underlining the importance of fair recognition practices in supporting inclusion, mobility and access to rights.
A dedicated session provided insights into the EQPR methodology, illustrating how qualifications can be assessed in the absence of full documentation and supporting more efficient and fair recognition procedures.
The event forms part of the Council of Europe’s broader efforts to promote inclusive and equitable education systems and contributes to the objectives of the New Democratic Pact for Europe, notably by strengthening democratic resilience through equal access to education, recognition of qualifications and the effective inclusion of refugees in society.
Following the event, on 29 and 30 April, 29 candidates have had their qualifications assessed by credential evaluators from Armenia, Georgia, Italy, Latvia and Poland. The number of the EQPR to be issued following those assessments will be known in the following days.
The EQPR helps refugees to rebuild their lives in their host countries by giving them the opportunity to have their qualifications assessed even in cases with insufficient or lacking documentation.
For more information on the EQPR, please visit the Project Webpage.
