Negotiating a Mutual Recognition Agreement Under a Central European Free Trade Agreement

In 2014, the Parties to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) started negotiations on trade services liberalization following the commitments spelled out in Articles 26-29 of the CEFTA 2006 Agreement. An important part of these negotiations focuses on recognition of professional qualifications through a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), which would facilitate mobility in professional services across borders and enhance the liberalisation of cross-border market access of services of mutual interest to the Parties. The migration flows between states which are the Parties to CEFTA are relatively low, as the majority of migration flows from the region are aimed towards the EU. This article first explores why the Parties to CEFTA have initiated the negotiations aimed at creating a joint MRA. Secondly, it aims to identify the conditions which enabled the CEFTA Secretariat to act strategically to initiate involvement of education experts and the Ministries of Education in the negotiations.