COMPETENT AUTHORITY
The provisions of the EU Regulations are binding on competent authorities and obligate them to:
- deal with applicants who are EEA* nationals (or have enforceable Community rights, such as spouses of EEA nationals) holding qualifications obtained elsewhere in the Community or Switzerland or from a third country in accordance with the provisions set out in the Directive;
- operate as a contact point providing detailed information to applicants about the profession
- work closely with competent authorities in other Member States to provide assistance and exchange pertinent information;
- collate information (including statistics) relating to applications received and decisions taken plus actions relating to temporary service provision and to make it available to the Department when requested;
- advise the Department of any changes which may affect the details shown in any of the Schedules in SI 2007/2781.
*EU Member State plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland
The Competent Authority for Gas Installers in the United Kingdom (UK) is CORGI
Obligations imposed on a competent authority
A competent authority is obliged to:
- receive and consider applications from professionally qualified applicants from the EEA (or those with enforceable Community rights) to practice a regulated profession or use a protected title or designatory letters;
- assess applications in accordance with the provisions and timescales set out in the Regulations;
- make a reasoned decision on applications and communicate that decision in writing to the applicant;
- ensure arrangements for compensation measures are in accordance with the directive and the Regulations;
- give authorisation to practice or use a title to those EEA applicants satisfying the requirements;
- share and exchange information with competent authorities in other Member States to make the recognition process speedier and easier, particularly any information about disciplinary action or criminal sanctions or any other serious incident likely to affect the practice of the profession. Where another Member State sends information about a UK professional, the UK competent authority must examine the information presented and decide what action to take.