Meeting in Slovenia, for the first General Assembly of the year, kindly hosted by the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia, the EFN members discussed and agreed that in the current modernisation process of Directive 36, the EFN is actively orienting its efforts to ensure that the modernised text sets the foundations under which nurses will move freely around Europe, while ensuring patient safety. The minimum requirements for automatic recognition, in need of proper implementation by Member States, aim to re-design an EU health workforce which is competent, highly qualified and motivated to address healthcare challenges, including chronic diseases and an ageing population. With higher educated nurses, nursing performance leads to better quality and patient outcomes, major efficiency in chronic disease management and better retention rates in the workforce. Investments in nursing education will pay off whilst contributing to the sustainability of health systems.