A once in a generation opportunity is approaching and midwives need to be part of shaping it.
The European Commission is currently reviewing Annex V of Directive 2005/36/EC on Professional Qualifications – the framework that sets the international benchmark for midwifery education, qualification recognition and professional mobility.
In the March 2026 edition of MIDIRS Midwifery Digest we set out what this means for UK midwifery and why it matters for our profession.
Although the UK is no longer legally bound by EU law, this directive continues to shape how UK midwives are recognised internationally and how our education standards compare globally.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council’s most recent pre-registration standards retained alignment with the directive, and important questions remain about how UK midwives are able to work internationally.
Maintaining a clear line of sight to European developments helps safeguard the international standing of UK midwives and supports collaboration across health systems.
This review is a real opportunity to address those questions and to modernise those standards in line with contemporary evidence, values and practice.
As a Member Association of ICM, the RCM supports the joint advocacy efforts of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the European Forum of National Nursing and Midwifery Associations (EFNNMA), as set out in their policy position paper.
It makes the case for an education framework built around mobility, cultural competence and a rights-based, equity-sensitive approach to care, ensuring midwives are equipped not only to deliver high-quality services, but to advocate for women’s rights and address health inequalities.
These priorities align with the WHO’s strategic direction for nursing and midwifery across the European region and reinforce what is distinctive and valuable about our profession.
The RCM’s position is clear: “The RCM calls on policymakers to collaborate closely with midwives and midwifery associations across the European region and internationally to ensure that this once in a generation opportunity is optimised. By amplifying the profession’s voice, we can secure an education framework, for Europe, the UK and globally, that supports excellence, equity and innovation in maternity care now, and for generations to come.”
We encourage members to read the full paper – Call for advocacy: the European Directive and its impact on UK midwifery education by Brigante et al., MIDIRS Midwifery Digest, March 2026 – and to bring its recommendations into their advocacy conversations, at every level.
This is our moment. Let’s use it.
Brigante L, Jokinen M, Lyne M, Bower H (2026) Call for advocacy: the European Directive and its impact on UK midwifery education. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest 36:1, 29–30.
