After long negotiations between the Council and the Commission, the European Parliament approved a directive on a European driving licence. In certain countries, this represents a veritable revolution: a driving licence for life will be replaced by one which is renewable every 10 years, 5 years for bus and lorry drivers.
Within a few years, the 110 models in circulation in the 27 Member States of the European Union will disappear and will be replaced by one driving licence in credit card format. A database of the licences of the 27 EU Member States will be created, which will serve as a vital instrument in the fight against "driving licence tourism".
‘This decision is very important for road safety in Europe’ said Jacques Barrot, EU’s Transport Commissioner. ‘In the future all drivers in the EU will have the same clear and modern drivers licence, that is recognised by all Member States.Henceforth it will be known that whoever holds a European driving licence complies with basic rules’
‘Thanks to the network of driving licences, it will be sure that those who have had their licences revoked or suspended cannot apply in another Member State for one and go back on the road and drive with impunity’, declared Mr. Barrot, who is also one of the Vice-Presidents of the European Commission.
In the new system is chosen for more security but also for a small margin of flexibility to find a balance between the various national traditions. To cite one example, the approved text envisages for mopeds a 4 year margin (between 14 and 18 years) as the required minimum age.
The period for replacing old models will be six years after the adoption of the directive, but it could be necessary to wait another twenty more years (therefore 2032!) before being able to withdraw the old yellowed papers, certain without a photograph, and replace them with the new credit card model.
‘Let us hope that Member States will have the will to shorten these deadlines once the new models become available", said Belgian MEP Dirk Sterckx.
