The AIA, Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE), and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) have begun negotiations for a future Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) slated for completion in mid-2004. The final agreement will identify specific criteria and procedures for the mutual recognition of education, training, and experience standards among the participating political and economic bodies. An initial accord was signed by the parties at a December 2002 meeting in Washington where objectives and basic principles were identified.

C. Robert Campbell, FAIA, president of NCARB, explains, “In a globalized world, the protection of the public becomes increasingly important. Thus, to ensure that practicing architects have the level of qualifications required is of utmost importance for safeguarding the quality of the built environment. This must be the highest priority for architects all over the world.” Juhani Katainen, Hon. AIA, past president of ACE, and Gordon H. Chong, FAIA, past president of the AIA, also note that current negotiations are aimed at guaranteeing the parties involved will work intensely to promote the highest standards for architects within their respective consituencies on both sides of the Atlantic.

As envisioned in current discussions, the MRA would enable an architect licensed in the U.S to be recognized as an architect in any European Union member state. In turn, the MRA would enable an architect meeting the requirements of EU Directive 85/384/EEC in any EU member state to be recognized as an architect throughout the U.S.

The negotiations are ongoing as the World Trade Organization continues its efforts to establish a reference framework for MRAs in general. NCARB, the AIA, and ACE have taken the lead in determining equivalencies for architecture services, and are continually apprising the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Trade Directorate of the European Commission, and the EU member states of their efforts. When it is finalized, the architect groups will transmit the MRA to these entities with the objective of making the MRA officially binding, and to include it in the Transatlantic Economic Partnership (TEP) trade initiative or any future agreement between the relevant political entities.

For more information contact Ellen Delage, Assoc. AIA, director, international relations, 202-626-7415 or edelage@aia.org.

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