The main European legal instruments covering the mutual recognition of professional qualificationsis: Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications. The directive covers the European Economic Area and has been amended several times. The directive provides a modern EU system of recognition of professional experience and promotes automatic recognition of professional experience across the EU. The qualifications of some professions, such as doctors and architects, have been extensively harmonised by Directive 2005/36/EC. The directive offers more general guidelines for other professions, that have not been specifically regulated this Directive, or other specific rules. Any form of work that would normally be restricted in a member state to people who had gained a prof