The Czech Chamber of Architects has stopped disadvantaging Czech citizens with foreign authorization

Seventeen years after joining the European Union, the Czech Chamber of Architects had to reassess its previous approach to recognizing the qualifications of Czech citizens exercising architectural activities within the EU. The change significantly facilitates the return of architects with foreign experience to the Czech Republic.

Since 2005, the European Directive on the recognition of professional qualifications has been in effect. According to this directive, architects who obtain their education and qualification in one EU country are entitled to automatic recognition in another member country. A contentious interpretation of the Czech authorization law excluded Czech citizens registered to practice in another country from the right to automatic recognition. For many years, this led to violations of the European directive. A curious situation arose where authorization was recognized for citizens of other nationalities. However, Czech citizens with foreign authorization had to take examinations.

"When I contacted the Czech Chamber of Architects regarding my application for Czech authorization in 2020, I was surprised by their previous approach and turned to the European Union's legal advisory service, Solvit," says Josef Odvárka, a registered architect working in the Netherlands and the UK.

Upon the initiative of architect Odvárka, Solvit commissioned a legal opinion and consulted the matter with the European Commission and the Czech Ministry of Education. After Solvit found that the approach of the Czech Chamber of Architects contradicted European regulations, it alerted the chamber to its actions. At a subsequent meeting, the authorization board of the Czech Chamber of Architects changed its previous approach and thus allowed registration for Czech nationals who obtain authorization in another EU member state.

The first architects affected by the change today took their solemn oath before the chairman of the Czech Chamber of Architects.

"I believe we have achieved a very positive change for Czech architects with authorization in the European Union. From my surroundings, I know that some were hesitant to return and work in the Czech Republic. Conversely, there was a reluctance to pursue authorization in the country where they temporarily worked, as it was known that the Czech Chamber of Architects would not recognize authorization from another country," adds architect Odvárka.

This change could motivate more architects to gain foreign experience and subsequently return to the Czech Republic.