DIRECTIVE (EU) 2022/2561 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 14 December 2022

on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers (codification)

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 91 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,

After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),

After consulting the Committee of the Regions,

Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2),

Whereas:

(1) Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (3) has been substantially amended several times (4). In the interests of clarity and rationality, that Directive should be codified.

(2) In its White Paper of 28 March 2011, entitled ‘Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system’, the Commission sets out a ‘vision zero’ objective according to which the Union should move to a position where there are close to zero fatalities in road transport by 2050.

(3) The Commission, in its communication on policy orientations on road safety for 2011-2020, entitled ‘Towards a European road safety area: policy orientations on road safety 2011-2020’, proposed the goal of further halving the overall number of road fatalities in the Union by 2020, starting from 2010. With a view to reaching this goal, the Commission laid down seven strategic objectives, including improving the education and training of road users and the protection of vulnerable road users.

(4) A binding target of a domestic reduction in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions of at least 40 % by 2030 compared to 1990 was endorsed by the European Council of 23 to 24 October 2014. This target for emissions reduction will help to fulfil the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (5), and all sectors of the economy should contribute to achieving it. The transport sector needs a comprehensive approach for the promotion of emission reductions and energy efficiency. Progress should be made towards low-emission mobility, inter alia, through research and through the introduction of technological advances that are already available. Drivers need to be properly trained to drive in the most efficient manner.

(5) To enable drivers to meet the demands relating to the road transport market, Union rules on the minimum level of training for road transport drivers should be applicable to all drivers, whether they drive as self-employed or salaried workers, and whether on their own account or for hire or reward.

(6) Union rules on the minimum level of training for road transport drivers should be aimed at ensuring that, by means of his or her qualification, the driver is of a standard to have access to and carry out the activity of driving.

(7) More particularly, the obligation to hold an initial qualification and to undergo periodic training is intended to improve road safety and the safety of the driver, including during operations carried out by the driver while the vehicle is stopped. Furthermore, the modern nature of the profession of driver should arouse young people’s interest in the profession, contributing to the recruitment of new drivers at a time of shortage.

(8) To avoid unequal conditions of competition, this Directive should apply to the activity of driving carried out both by nationals of a Member State and by nationals of third countries who are employed or used by an undertaking established in a Member State.

(9) It is desirable, in order to respect the principles of Union law, that drivers of vehicles used to carry out transport where this is considered to have a lesser impact on road safety or where the requirements of this Directive would impose a disproportionate economic or social burden should be exempted from the application of this Directive.

(10) Certain exemptions should be laid down in relation to situations where driving is not the principal activity of the driver and where it would impose a disproportionate burden on drivers to require them to comply with the requirements of this Directive. Generally, driving is deemed not to be the driver’s principal activity where it occupies less than 30 % of the rolling monthly working time.

(11) Where the driving occurs infrequently, takes place in rural areas and is carried out by drivers who are supplying their own business, exemptions should apply, provided that road safety is still ensured. Due to the different conditions in rural areas within the Union in terms of geography, climate and population density, Member States should have discretion in determining whether such driving can be considered to be occasional and whether such an exemption has an impact on road safety, for example on the basis of the type of road, the traffic volume or the presence of vulnerable road users.

(12) Since the distances that persons working in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, farming and fishery, who are exempted from this Directive, need to cover in the course of their work vary across the Union, it should be left to Member States to determine, in their national law, maximum permissible distances, calculated from the undertaking’s base, to which the exemptions apply.

(13) In order to establish that the driver complies with his or her obligations, Member States should issue the driver with a certificate of professional competence (CPC) certifying his or her initial qualification or periodic training.

(14) Member States should be able to choose between several options so as to facilitate the implementation of the provisions relating to the initial qualification.

(15) In order to maintain their qualification of driver, existing drivers should be obliged to undergo periodic retraining in the skills essential for their profession.

(16) Those drivers who were exempted from the initial qualification requirement should, while continuing to benefit from that exemption, nonetheless be required to undergo periodic training to ensure that their knowledge of matters which are essential for their work remains up-to-date.

(17) The minimum requirements to be met for initial qualification and periodic training concern the safety rules to be observed when driving and while the vehicle is stopped. The development of defensive driving (anticipating danger, making allowance for other road users), which goes hand in hand with rational fuel consumption, should have a positive impact both on society and on the road transport sector itself.

(18) This Directive should not affect the rights acquired by a driver who has held the driving licence necessary to carry out the activity of driving since before the date laid down for obtaining a CPC certifying the corresponding initial qualification or periodic training.

(19) Only training centres which have been approved by the competent authorities of the Member States should be able to organise the training courses laid down for the initial qualification and the periodic training. To ensure the quality of such approved centres, the competent authorities should set harmonised criteria for their approval, including that of a well-established high level of professionalism.

(20) Not only the competent authorities of the Member States but also any entity designated by them should be responsible for organising the tests provided for in connection with the initial qualification and the periodic training. Given the importance of this Directive for road safety and for the equality of conditions of competition, the competent authorities of the Member States should supervise such tests.

(21) Member States should prescribe that the first course of periodic training is to be completed and should issue the corresponding CPC within the five years following either the date of issue of the CPC certifying the initial qualification or the expiry date of the time limit set for certain drivers to claim their acquired rights. It should also be possible for those time limits to be shortened or extended. Following the first course of periodic training, the driver should undergo periodic training every five years.

(22) To certify that a driver who is a national of a Member State is the holder of one of the CPCs provided for by this Directive, and to facilitate mutual recognition of the various CPCs, Member States should affix the harmonised Union code laid down for that purpose, together with the code’s expiry date, either to the driving licence or to the driver qualification card, to be mutually recognised by Member States, the standard model of which is depicted in Annex II to this Directive. That card should meet the same security requirements as the driving licence, given the importance of the rights which it confers for road safety and the equality of conditions of competition.

(23) Member States, in cooperation with the Commission, should electronically exchange information on CPCs. They should develop the necessary electronic platform, taking into account a cost-benefit analysis by the Commission, including the option of expanding the EU driving licence network set up under Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (6). Among other benefits, that will allow Member States to easily access information on completed training which is not documented on the driving licence of the driver. It is important that Member States and the Commission make efforts to develop that functionality further, with the goal of real-time access during roadside checks.

(24) Taking into account developments in training and education, and in order to enhance the contribution of this Directive to road safety and the relevance of training for drivers, subjects relating to road safety should be dealt with in the training courses, such as hazard perception, the protection of vulnerable road users, in particular pedestrians, cyclists and persons with limited mobility, fuel-efficient driving, driving in extreme weather conditions and carrying abnormal loads. In that context, the courses should also relate to intelligent transport systems and should evolve in order to keep pace with technological developments.

(25) Member States should be provided with a clear option to improve and modernise training practices with the use of information and communication technology (ICT) tools, such as e-learning and blended learning, for part of the training, while ensuring the quality of the training. When improving and modernising training practices with the use of ICT tools, it is important to take into account the fact that some specific topics require hands-on training and cannot be properly addressed with such learning tools: for example, fitting snow chains or securing loads, or other training elements where the practical side is important. Practical training could, but does not have to, consist of driving. A substantial amount of the training required under this Directive should be carried out at an approved training centre.

(26) To ensure consistency between the different forms of training required under Union law, Member States should have the possibility of combining different types of relevant training: for example, it should be possible for them to combine training on the transport of dangerous goods, on disability awareness or on animal transport, with the training provided for in this Directive.

(27) To prevent differences in practices between Member States from impeding mutual recognition and restricting the right of drivers to undergo the periodic training in the Member State where they work, Member State authorities should be required, if completed training cannot be marked on the driving licence, to issue a driver qualification card, in the form prescribed by the standard model depicted in Annex II to this Directive, that will ensure mutual recognition for every driver who fulfils the requirements of this Directive.

(28) The use of driver attestations by drivers from third countries as evidence of compliance with the training requirements might present an obstacle for drivers when the haulier returns the attestation to the issuing authorities, particularly when those drivers wish to take up employment in another Member State. To avoid situations where, under such circumstances, drivers have to repeat their training when taking up new employment, Member States should be encouraged to cooperate and exchange information on driver qualifications.

(29) Special certification provisions should be laid down for drivers covered by this Directive who are nationals of third countries.

(30) In order to adapt this Directive to scientific and technical progress, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission in respect of amending Annexes I and II to this Directive. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making (7). In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States’ experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

(31) Since the objective of this Directive, namely the setting out of a Union-wide standard of initial qualification and periodic training for drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States but can rather, by reason of the cross-border nature of road transport and of the issues this Directive is intended to address, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective.

(32) This Directive should be without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time-limits for the transposition into national law and the dates of application of the Directives set out in Part B of Annex IV,

HAVE ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1 Scope This Directive shall apply to the activity of driving carried out by: (a) nationals of a Member State, and (b) nationals of third countries who are employed or used by an undertaking established in a Member State (hereinafter referred to as ‘drivers’) engaged in road transport within the Union, on roads open to the public, using: — vehicles for which a driving licence of category C1, C1 + E, C or C + E, as defined in Directive 2006/126/EC, or a driving licence recognised as equivalent, is required, — vehicles for which a driving licence of category D1, D1 + E, D or D + E, as defined in Directive 2006/126/EC, or a driving licence recognised as equivalent, is required. For the purposes of this Directive, the references to categories of driving licences containing a plus sign (‘+’) shall be read in accordance with the correspondence table set out in Annex III to this Directive.

Article 2 Exemptions 1. This Directive shall not apply to the drivers of vehicles: (a) with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 km/h; (b) used by, or under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service, forces responsible for maintaining public order, and emergency ambulance services, when the carriage is undertaken as a consequence of the tasks assigned to those services; (c) undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or the drivers of new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service; (d) for which a driving licence of category D or D1 is required and which are driven without passengers by maintenance personnel to or from a maintenance centre situated in the vicinity of the nearest maintenance base which is used by the transport operator, provided that driving the vehicle does not constitute the driver’s principal activity; (e) used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions, including vehicles used in the non-commercial transport of humanitarian aid; (f) used for driving instruction for, and examination of, any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), in accordance with Article 6 and Article 8(1), provided that they are not being used for the commercial carriage of goods and passengers; (g) used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods; (h) carrying material, equipment or machinery to be used by the drivers in the course of their work, provided that driving the vehicles is not the drivers’ principal activity. With regard to the first subparagraph, point (f), this Directive shall not apply to any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or a CPC, in accordance with Article 6 and Article 8(1), when that person is undergoing additional driving training during work-based learning, where that person is accompanied by another person who is certified by a CPC, or a driving instructor, for the category of vehicle used for the purpose set out in that point. 2. This Directive shall not apply where all the following conditions are met: (a) the drivers of vehicles operate in rural areas to supply their own business; (b) the drivers do not offer transport services; (c) the Member States consider that the transport is occasional and does not have an impact on road safety. 3. This Directive shall not apply to drivers of vehicles used, or hired without a driver, by agricultural, horticultural, forestry, farming or fishery undertakings for carrying goods as part of their own entrepreneurial activity, except if driving is part of the driver’s principal activity or the driving exceeds a distance set in national law from the base of the undertaking which owns, hires or leases the vehicle.

Article 3 Qualification and training 1. The activity of driving as referred to in Article 1 shall be subject to a compulsory initial qualification and compulsory periodic training. To that end, Member States shall provide for: (a) a system of initial qualification Member States shall choose between the following two options: (i) an option combining both course attendance and a test In accordance with Section 2, point 2.1 of Annex I, this type of initial qualification involves compulsory course attendance for a specific period. It shall conclude with a test. Upon successful completion of the test, the qualification shall be certified by a CPC as provided for in Article 6(1), point (a); (ii) an option involving only tests In accordance with Section 2, point 2.2 of Annex I, this type of initial qualification does not involve compulsory course attendance but only theoretical and practical tests. Upon successful completion of the tests, the qualification shall be certified by a CPC as provided for in Article 6(1), point (b). However, a Member State may authorise a driver to drive within its territory before obtaining a CPC, when he or she is undergoing a national vocational training course of at least six months, for a maximum period of three years. In the context of this vocational training course, the tests referred to in points (i) and (ii) may be completed in stages; (b) a system of periodic training In accordance with Section 4 of Annex I, periodic training shall involve compulsory course attendance. It shall be certified by a CPC as provided for in Article 8(1). 2. Member States may also provide for a system of accelerated initial qualification so that a driver may drive in the cases referred to in Article 5(2), point (a)(ii) and point (b), and Article 5(3), point (a)(i) and point (b). In accordance with Section 3 of Annex I, the accelerated initial qualification shall involve compulsory course attendance. It shall conclude with a test. Upon successful completion of the test, the qualification shall be certified by a CPC as provided for in Article 6(2). 3. Member States may exempt drivers who have obtained the certificate of professional competence provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (8) from the tests referred to in paragraph 1, point (a)(i) and (ii), and in paragraph 2 of this Article, in the subjects covered by the test provided for in that Regulation and, where appropriate, from attending the part of the course corresponding thereto.

Article 4 Acquired rights The following drivers shall be exempted from the requirement to obtain an initial qualification: (a) drivers who hold a category D1, D1 + E, D or D + E driving licence, or a driving licence recognised as equivalent, issued no later than 9 September 2008; (b) drivers who hold a category C1, C1 + E, C or C + E driving licence, or a driving licence recognised as equivalent, issued no later than 9 September 2009.

Article 5 Initial qualification 1. Access to an initial qualification shall not require the corresponding driving licence to be obtained beforehand. 2. Drivers of a vehicle intended for the carriage of goods may drive: (a) from the age of 18: (i) a vehicle in driving licence categories C and C + E, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(1); (ii) a vehicle in driving licence categories C1 and C1 + E, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(2); (b) from the age of 21, a vehicle in driving licence categories C and C + E, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(2). 3. Drivers of a vehicle intended for the carriage of passengers may drive: (a) from the age of 21: (i) a vehicle in driving licence categories D and D + E to carry passengers on regular services where the route does not exceed 50 kilometres and a vehicle in driving licence categories D1 and D1 + E, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(2). Any Member State may authorise drivers of vehicles in one of those categories to drive such vehicles within its territory from the age of 18, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(1); (ii) a vehicle in driving licence categories D and D + E, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(1). Any Member State may authorise drivers of vehicles in one of those categories to drive such vehicles within its territory from the age of 20, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(1). This may be reduced to the age of 18 where the driver drives such vehicles without passengers; (b) from the age of 23, a vehicle in driving licence categories D and D + E, provided that they hold a CPC as referred to in Article 6(2). 4. Without prejudice to the age limits specified in paragraph 2 of this Article, drivers undertaking the carriage of goods who hold a CPC, as provided for in Article 6, for one of the categories provided for in paragraph 2 of this Article shall be exempted from obtaining such a CPC for any of the other categories of vehicles referred to in that paragraph. These provisions shall apply under the same conditions to drivers undertaking the carriage of passengers in the categories referred to in paragraph 3. 5. Drivers undertaking the carriage of goods who broaden or modify their activities in order to carry passengers, or vice versa, and who hold a CPC as provided for in Article 6 shall not be required to repeat the common parts of the initial qualification, but rather only the parts specific to the new qualification.

Article 6 CPC certifying the initial qualification 1. A CPC may be awarded to certify an initial qualification, in the following circumstances: (a) CPC awarded on the basis of course attendance and a test In accordance with Article 3(1), point (a)(i), Member States shall require trainee drivers to attend courses in a training centre approved by the competent authorities in accordance with Section 5 of Annex I (‘approved training centre’). Those courses shall cover all the subjects referred to in Section 1 of Annex I. That training shall conclude with the successful completion of the test provided for in Section 2, point 2.1 of Annex I. That test shall be organised by the Member States’ competent authorities or an entity designated by them and shall serve to check whether, for the subjects referred to in Section 1 of Annex I, the trainee drivers have the level of knowledge required by that Section. The said authorities or entities shall supervise the test and, upon successful completion, issue the drivers with a CPC certifying an initial qualification. (b) CPC awarded on the basis of tests In accordance with Article 3(1), point (a)(ii), Member States shall require trainee drivers to pass the theoretical and practical tests referred to in Section 2, point 2.2 of Annex I. Those tests shall be organised by the Member States’ competent authorities or an entity designated by them and shall serve to check whether, for the subjects referred to in Section 1 of Annex I, the trainee drivers have the level of knowledge required by that Section. The said authorities or entities shall supervise the tests and, upon successful completion, issue the drivers with a CPC certifying an initial qualification. 2. A CPC may be awarded to certify an accelerated initial qualification. In accordance with Article 3(2), Member States shall require trainee drivers to attend courses in an approved training centre. Those courses shall cover all the subjects referred to in Section 1 of Annex I. That training shall conclude with the test provided for in Section 3 of Annex I. That test shall be organised by the Member States’ competent authorities or an entity designated by them and shall serve to check whether, for the subjects referred to in Section 1 of Annex I, the trainee drivers have the level of knowledge required by that Section. The said authorities or entities shall supervise the test and, upon successful completion, issue the drivers with a CPC certifying an accelerated initial qualification.

Article 7 Periodic training Periodic training shall consist of training to enable holders of a CPC to update the knowledge which is essential for their work, with specific emphasis on road safety, health and safety at work, and the reduction of the environmental impact of driving. That training shall be organised by an approved training centre, in accordance with Section 5 of Annex I. Training shall consist of classroom teaching, practical training and, if available, training by means of ICT tools or using top-of-the-range simulators. If a driver moves to another undertaking, the periodic training already undergone shall be taken into account. Periodic training shall be designed to expand on, and to revise, some of the subjects referred to in Section 1 of Annex I. It shall cover a variety of subjects and shall always include at least one road safety related subject. The training subjects shall take into account developments in the relevant legislation and technology, and shall, as far as possible, take into account the specific training needs of the driver.

Article 8 CPC certifying periodic training 1. When a driver has completed the periodic training referred to in Article 7, the Member States’ competent authorities or the approved training centre shall issue him or her with a CPC certifying that the periodic training was completed. 2. Holders of a CPC as referred to in Article 6 shall undergo a first course of periodic training within five years of the issue of that CPC. Member States may reduce or extend the period of time referred to in the first subparagraph, inter alia, so that it coincides with the date of expiry of the driving licence. The period may not, however, be shorter than three years or longer than seven years. 3. A driver who has completed a first course of periodic training as referred to in paragraph 2 or in accordance with Article 8(2), first subparagraph, point (b), of Directive 2003/59/EC shall undergo periodic training every five years, before the end of the period of validity of the CPC certifying that the periodic training was completed. 4. Holders of the CPC as referred to in Article 6 or the CPC as referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article and the drivers referred to in Article 4 who have ceased the exercise of their occupation and who do not meet the requirements of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article shall undergo a course of periodic training before resuming the exercise of the occupation. 5. Drivers undertaking the carriage of goods or passengers by road who have completed courses of periodic training for one of the driving licence categories provided for in Article 5(2) and (3) shall be exempt from the obligation to undergo further periodic training for any of the other categories provided for in those paragraphs.

Article 9 Place of training Drivers referred to in Article 1, point (a), of this Directive shall obtain the initial qualification referred to in Article 5 of this Directive in the Member State where they have their normal residence, as defined in Article 12 of Directive 2006/126/EC. Drivers referred to in Article 1, point (b), shall obtain that initial qualification in the Member State where the undertaking is established or in the Member State which issued a work permit to them. Drivers referred to in Article 1, points (a) and (b), shall undergo the periodic training referred to in Article 7 in the Member State where they have their normal residence or the Member State where they work.

Article 10 Union code 1. On the basis of the CPC certifying an initial qualification and the CPC certifying periodic training, Member States’ competent authorities shall, taking into account Article 5(2) and (3) and Article 8 of this Directive, mark the harmonised Union code, ‘95’, provided for in Annex I to Directive 2006/126/EC, alongside the corresponding categories of driving licence: — on the driving licence, or — on the driver qualification card drawn up in accordance with the standard model depicted in Annex II to this Directive. If the competent authorities of the Member State where the CPC was obtained cannot mark the harmonised Union code on the driving licence, they shall issue the driver with a driver qualification card. The driver qualification card issued by a Member State shall be mutually recognised. When the driver qualification card is issued, the competent authorities shall check the validity of the driving licence for the category of vehicle concerned. 2. A driver referred to in Article 1, point (b), of this Directive who drives vehicles used for the carriage of goods by road shall also be allowed to prove that he or she has the qualification and training provided for in this Directive by means of the driver attestation provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9), provided that it bears the Union code, ‘95’. For the purposes of this Directive, the issuing Member State shall indicate the Union code, ‘95’, in the remarks section of the attestation if the driver concerned has fulfilled the qualification requirements and training requirements provided for in this Directive. 3. Driver attestations that do not bear the Union code, ‘95’, and that were issued before 23 May 2020, in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009, and in particular with paragraph 7 thereof, with a view to certifying compliance with training requirements under this Directive shall be accepted as a proof of qualification until their date of expiry.

Article 11 Enforcement network 1. For enforcement purposes, Member States shall exchange information on CPCs issued or withdrawn. For that purpose Member States shall, in cooperation with the Commission, develop an electronic network or work on an extension of an existing network, taking into account the assessment by the Commission of the most cost-effective option. 2. The network may contain information contained in the CPCs as well as information relating to administrative procedures related to CPCs. 3. Member States shall ensure that the processing of personal data is carried out solely for the purposes of verifying compliance with this Directive, in particular the training requirements laid down in this Directive, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10). 4. Access to the network shall be secured. Member States may grant access only to the competent authorities responsible for the implementation of, and for the control of compliance with, this Directive.

Article 12 Adaptation to scientific and technical progress The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 13 concerning the amendment of Annexes I and II in order to adapt them to scientific and technical progress.

Article 13 Exercise of the delegation 1. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions laid down in this Article. 2. The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 12 shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 26 July 2019. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period. 3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 12 may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force. 4. Before adopting a delegated act, the Commission shall consult experts designated by each Member State in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. 5. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. 6. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 12 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or by the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.

Article 14 Repeal Directive 2003/59/EC, as amended by the acts listed in Part A of Annex IV is repealed, without prejudice to the obligations of the Member States relating to the time-limits for the transposition into national law and the dates of application of the Directives set out in Part B of Annex IV. References to the repealed Directive shall be construed as references to this Directive and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex V.

Article 15 Entry into force This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 16 Addressees This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Strasbourg, 14 December 2022. For the European Parliament The President R. METSOLA For the Council The President M. BEK

(1) OJ C 155, 30.4.2021, p. 78.

(2) Position of the European Parliament of 22 November 2022 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 8 December 2022.

(3) Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2003 on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers, amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 3820/85 and Council Directive 91/439/EEC and repealing Council Directive 76/914/EEC (OJ L 226, 10.9.2003, p. 4).

(4) See Annex IV, Part A.

(5) OJ L 282, 19.10.2016, p. 4.

(6) Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on driving licences (OJ L 403, 30.12.2006, p. 18).

(7) OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.

(8) Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing common rules concerning the conditions to be complied with to pursue the occupation of road transport operator and repealing Council Directive 96/26/EC (OJ L 300, 14.11.2009, p. 51).

(9) Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 on common rules for access to the international road haulage market (OJ L 300, 14.11.2009, p. 72).

(10) Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).