00:00You're only allowed to do this in Germany if you are trained here.
00:04Ludwig Jaboin had to learn that the hard way.
00:07The French baker moved to Bavaria for love, but when he tried to open his own shop, he couldn't.
00:13His French master baker certificate was rejected in Germany.
00:16To run a bakery in Germany, Ludwig had to redo his master baker qualification from scratch.
00:29Ludwig's story demonstrates one big economic weakness of the European Union.
00:34For many Europeans, it's impossible to work across borders,
00:37because their job qualifications aren't accepted in other European countries.
00:42And this fragmentation, so different rules for different European countries,
00:46is slowing down the EU economy as much as a 110% tariff would, according to the IMF.
00:53The EU's 27 member states are supposed to function like one coherent economy,
00:57according to EU law.
00:59Workers like accountants, lawyers, and you got it, bakers,
01:02should be able to offer their services all over the EU.
01:06But in practice, these professions are still regulated by national laws,
01:10meaning EU countries can reject qualifications of foreign workers.
01:14In total, almost a quarter of Europeans have a job
01:17that they can't easily carry out in another EU member state.
01:21In the end, Ludwig had to spend a year and thousands of Euros,
01:24taking classes and preparing for an exam that he had already completed back in France.
01:36Supporters of the national rules, like guilds and trade associations,
01:40say that they protect the quality of local products, like German bread.
01:45But critics say that the rules are designed to keep foreign workers out.
01:49As an economist, I assume always that people follow their self-interest, including politicians.
01:56They have a choice between starting a fight with their national special interests,
02:00and therefore fulfill the European ideal, or saying,
02:03OK, the European ideal is nice, but in this particular case,
02:07maybe it's just too inconvenient for us to follow the European ideal.
02:12A handful of professional qualifications, like those of doctors, nurses and midwives,
02:17are already accepted throughout the EU.
02:19Now, the European Commission is pushing to expand the list.
02:23And that should make it easier for people to work across Europe,
02:26like for these bakers to bake bread in Spain or France, for example.
02:30But in reality, without member countries agreeing, that plan is only half-baked.
02:35Ludwig recently started teaching at the Academy of Bavarian Baking.
02:39He says his style is a blend of German and French techniques.
02:44I think it's the problem in politics.
02:47Many think that we have to protect ourselves.
02:48I don't want to protect ourselves.
02:50That's why I'm here to give my knowledge to the young people.
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