BACKGROUND:
Well-trained, regulated, and supported midwives in an enabling health system are the best caregivers for women and newborns. There are significant variations between the European countries in the way midwives are trained and in how they fulfill their scope of practice.

OBJECTIVES:
To identify similarities between the European countries in terms of midwifery education, regulation, and practice, that could be the starting point for obtaining a strong midwifery workforce.

METHODS:
To achieve the proposed objective, a literature search was performed for the relevant published articles between 2013 and 2025 by using electronic databases of Medline, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar.

RESULTS:
The most evident and beneficial similarity found is that midwifery education is at the academic level in the majority of European countries. Other similarities associated with the strong position of midwifery in Europe and the high quality of midwifery services include (1) the continued cultural respect and recognition of midwifery, (2) the presence of supervising and mentoring practices in midwifery training, and (3) a holistic curriculum where theoretical knowledge is effectively reinforced through practical experience, with tutors serving as professional role models.

CONCLUSIONS:
Significant progress in midwifery education across most European countries has contributed positively to midwives’ professional autonomy and clinical performance. Enhancing the visibility of midwives as researchers, alongside their active involvement in education and professional development, may support the achievement of full scope of practice. The midwifery profession tends to thrive in contexts where it is culturally respected and where governments and health systems actively invest in midwives’ education, regulatory frameworks, and working conditions.

KEY MESSAGE:
Strengthening midwifery education, regulation, and professional recognition across European countries is crucial for enhancing midwives' autonomy, clinical performance, and research involvement. Countries that invest in midwives and respect their work tend to have a more robust and effective midwifery workforce and better reproductive health. Poster session 3 (Group B)