According to the German Ministry for economic affairs, EU member states have agreed by a large majority on upgrading the German title of master craftsman within the system of European training qualifications. Thus, EU legislation has finally come to explicitly acknowledge the high qualification of German master craftsmen.
Mr Michael Glos, Federal Minister for economic affairs, who himself is a master craftsman pointed out the intensive work which had been necessary in order to dissipate the fears of other EU member states with regard to the free movement of craftsmen from other parts of the EU.
The decision made by an experts committee is now to be presented to the European Parliament. The German government expects that the European Parliament will not have any objections given that it itself had demanded this recognition of the German title. Thus, this regrading might very soon be published in the EU´s official journal thereby taking effect. 