Are EU Qualifications Exempt?
As a result of European harmonisation measures and international conventions, degrees obtained within the European Union are generally assessed through different instruments from those used for non-EU qualifications. Italian universities today rarely require a Declaration of Value for EU-awarded degrees, particularly where the applicant can provide a Diploma Supplement or a Statement of Comparability issued by CIMEA (the Italian Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence).
Law No. 148 of 2002, which ratified the Lisbon Recognition Convention, established simplified procedures for the mutual recognition of academic qualifications across Europe, thereby reducing the need for the Declaration of Value in most EU cases. The Italian Council of State has expressly clarified that, for qualifications obtained in another Member State, the Declaration of Value must not be considered a decisive or exclusionary requirement. Italian authorities are instead required to conduct a substantive evaluation of the qualification’s content, level, and academic relevance, rather than relying solely on the formal consular declaration.
In practice, this means that holders of degrees issued by EU institutions are often admitted to Italian universities without submitting a Declaration of Value, provided that they can present official academic documentation such as transcripts, Diploma Supplements, or other comparative certificates. Nevertheless, since admission procedures vary among institutions, it is advisable to verify each university’s specific policy: while many now accept alternative documentation, some still recommend obtaining a Declaration of Value for completeness and to pre-empt any administrative difficulties.