The city of Maia hosted the General Assembly of CEPLIS – the European Council of the Liberal Professions – on 26 and 27 June, marking the first time that representatives of the European federations and mono- and interprofessional associations that make up CEPLIS met in Portugal.
The event was organised by the Portuguese National Association of Liberal Professionals (ANPL), the Portuguese member organisation of CEPLIS, with the support of the Municipality of Maia.
The opening ceremony took place at Maia City Hall and was attended by the Portuguese Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Carlos de Abreu Amorim, who presented the Portuguese Government’s perspective on the challenges facing the liberal professions (pdf), the President of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council, Luís Pais Antunes, who addressed, among other topics, the representation of the liberal professions (pdf), the President of CEPLIS, Klaus Thürriedl, the Director General of CEPLIS, Theodoros Koutroubas; and the President of ANPL, João Ascenso, who presented the association’s vision for the future of the liberal professions in Portugal and across Europe.
The participants were welcomed by the Mayor of Maia, António Domingues da Silva Tiago, who greeted the European delegations on behalf of the Municipality.
Representing ANPL were also Fernando Rodrigues Pereira and Artur Miler, Vice-Presidents of the Board, Elsa Veloso, Board Member, and Orlando Monteiro da Silva, Chair of the General Assembly.
Throughout the meeting, representatives of the organisations affiliated with CEPLIS discussed the main challenges facing the liberal professions in Portugal and across the European Union, in a context shaped by digital transformation, changing labour markets, and the need to strengthen the recognition and value of the liberal professions.
On 27 June, the General Assembly met in plenary session at Quinta da Gruta, where several strategic issues concerning the future of the liberal professions were debated. Among the key items on the agenda were the European Commission’s Report on the implementation of the Professional Qualifications Directive (Directive 2005/36/EC) and the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the liberal professions.
On this occasion, Elsa Veloso, Member of the ANPL Board, delivered a presentation on the challenges that Artificial Intelligence poses to the world of work and to the liberal professions (pdf).
ANPL expresses its sincere appreciation to the Municipality of Maia for its outstanding institutional and logistical support, which was instrumental to the successful organisation of the CEPLIS General Assembly in Portugal.
The speeches delivered by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, the President of the Portuguese Economic and Social Council, the President of ANPL, and the presentation by Elsa Veloso are available for consultation.
Photo credits: Municipality of Maia / Mário Santos. Image credit for the AG CEPLIS meeting: Paulo Romão Design.
Associação Nacional dos Profissionais Liberais 