Earlier this week, both the ministers and the parliamentary committee discussed the Commission proposal presented in March. It became clear that the EU countries want to retain their own criteria for seniors when renewing driving licenses, including the option (as in the Netherlands) to do this themselves in writing via an online application. The European Parliament committee, on the other hand, believes that a proper doctor’s certificate is necessary.
There is agreement between ministers and the European Parliament that a driving license should be valid for 15 years, except for older drivers. Stricter rules must also be implemented for young people who have held a driving license for less than two years. Unsafe driving behavior and driving under the influence of alcohol will be punished more severely for them.
The age limit for the ‘large’ driving license for trucks will be lowered from 21 to 18 years old, provided that young people have passed a competence test beforehand. With this, ministers and parliament respond to an urgent request from the transport sector, which is struggling with a severe shortage of drivers.
Additionally, within a maximum of seven years a digital driving license will be introduced, available on smartphones, which can also be used for age verification. EU countries will need to use an EU registration procedure for this. However, physical driving licenses will remain valid. From 2033 onwards, the European driving license in the form of a bank card will be mandatory and the paper version will disappear.
The intention is that in the coming months, the EU Council of Transport Ministers and the European Parliament Transport Committee will agree in their trilogue negotiations on a joint position that incorporates both parties’ wish lists into the earlier proposal from the European Commission.