• Development of a European Scope of Osteopathic Practice: this potentially valuable piece of work, being developed by EFO and FORE member organisations, is reaching its final stages before wider dissemination / consultation amongst the osteopathic profession and wider public in 2010.  A purpose of this document, once finalised, will be to assist Member States in their consideration of osteopathic regulation. 
• Formalisation of European osteopathic standards: further consideration was given to the formalisation of European osteopathic standards through adoption by national standardisation agencies.  The mechanism for this would be through working with the European Committee of Standardisation (CEN: www.cen.eu) with which a meeting is scheduled to explore potential next steps.   
• Update on regulatory developments in Spain: currently the Spanish Government is proposing a law project on natural therapies, including osteopathy.  Concerns have been raised about the definition and classification of osteopathy the Government is proposing and the accuracy of the research it has compiled on the status of osteopathy in different countries.  Representations from FORE and EFO members to the Spanish Government have been submitted.    
• Update on regulatory developments in Norway: the Norwegian Government is in the process of considering the future authorisation of osteopathy in Norway.  It was agreed that FORE would make a collective submission in support of authorisation.  Authorisation is required in Norway to practise as a regulated profession and benefit from VAT exemption, for example.  

As an illustration of the practical application of the Memorandum of Understanding between the EFO and FORE, representatives from both bodies held a joint briefing with European Commission official, Mr Jurgen Tiedje in October 2009.  Mr Tiedje has responsibility for EU legislation governing the recognition of professional qualifications, which affects the rights of osteopaths wishing to practise in different Member States.

Mr Tiedje was particularly interested in our experience of the Recognition of the Professional Qualifications directive, and we were able to highlight a number of patient safety concerns, based on the the lack of regulation of osteopathy across Europe and consequent inability of authorities to share information between Member States.

On information exchange, it was agreed that the Commission would extend its Internal Market Information (IMI) system to include osteopaths, to facilitate the sharing of data about registrants moving from one country to another.

Mr Tiedje was also interested to hear about the joint EFO/FORE project to develop a European scope of osteopathic practice and how this might help to promote mobility, as well as the potential collaboration with the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) to formalise osteopathic standards.

The European Federation of Osteopaths (EFO) and the Forum for Osteopathic Regulation in Europe (FORE) held their fourth joint meeting in September 2009, bringing together 17 osteopathic representatives from all over Europe.

To express a firm commitment to this increasing collaboration, a memorandum of understanding between the EFO and FORE was drafted, agreed and formally signed at the meeinting.  This memorandum commits each organisation to share information about their respective work programmes and to carry out joint lobbying activity where this will facilitate the regulation of osteopathy as an autonomous profession across Europe.

 Other items discussed included:

• Progress of the joint EFO-FORE working group exploring the development of a European scope of osteoapthic practice.  The group is expected to produce its first draft scope document in early 2010.
• The formalisation of European osteopathic standards, through adoption by national standardisation agencies.
• The potential merger of FORE and the EFO.  It was agreed that each body would carry out a feasibility study to review the pros and cons of merging and possible alternative structures.  Both groups would report by Autumn 2010.

FORE held its 8th meeting in July 2009, bringing together 25 representatives from osteopathic organisations across Europe.  Held in Stockholm during the Swedish Presidency of the EU, a key aim of this meeting was to consider proposals developed by the Secretariat, current provided by the General Osteopathic Council, to formalise the governance, membership and funding structure of FORE and to agree a draft strategic plan for the next 3 years.

Following a lengthy debate, it was agreed that membership of FORE should be organisation-based, but voting would be by country.  To date, FORE has had no formal structure and decisions have been based on a consensus.  Proposals on funding mechanisms, categories of full and associate membership and the principle of appointing a Chair were all referred back to the respective organisations for consideration at the next meeting of FORE, expected in November.  A draft strategic plan received wide support, as well as the move towards increased coooperation and communication with the European Federation of Osteopaths, representatives of which were also in attendance.

Formalising European osteopathic standards

FORE considered the potential authorisation of its Framework documents on standards of osteopathic education, training and practice through adoption by national standadisation agencies.  A representative from the European Committee of Standardisation (CEN) gave an informative presentation on the process of developing European standards, which although would not override national law, would provide some benchmark standard in those Member States without regulation - currently the majority of EU countries.  As some French osteopathic organisations had already started work on developing a national standard through their national standardisation agency, they were asked to consider whether they would stop this project in favour of developing European standards.  It was agreed that our French colleagues would need to confirm with CEN and the FORE Secretariat as soon as possible how they wished to move forward.