Germany's strict recognition rules for professional qualifications prevent many EU citizens — like French baker Ludovic Gerboin — from working across borders, exposing a major weakness in the European Union’s single market.

Although EU law envisions seamless labor mobility, nearly a quarter of Europeans still face barriers because member states can reject foreign certifications, slowing economic growth as much as a 110% tariff, according to the IMF.

While some professions, such as doctors and nurses, enjoy automatic recognition, broader reform remains stalled by national interests, leaving workers like Ludovic to repeat costly training despite already being qualified abroad.

 

This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.