Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences (96/C 21/04) (Text with EEA relevance) COM(95) 166 final - 95/0109(SYN)

(Submitted by the Commission of 11 May 1995)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

In cooperation with the European Parliament,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee,

Whereas Council Directive 91/439/EEC (1) of 29 July 1991 on driving licences, as last amended by Council Directive 94/72/EC (2), provides that national driving licences are issued in accordance with the Community model described in its Annex I;

Whereas it is desirable to introduce an alternative model driving licence which can use modern management technologies and offer a potential for increased flexibility of use, increase of the security of and reduction of the risk of forgery of driving licences;

Whereas the design of the new model driving licence should incorporate a space for the possible introduction of a microchip;

Whereas to assure compatibility and interoperability throughout the European Union it is desirable to define common specifications and standards before such microchips are introduced separately by individual Member States;

Whereas in this context the introduction in the future of a driver's card for professional drivers in accordance with the provisions laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 3821/85 (3) of 20 December 1985 on recording equipment in road transport should be taken into account;

Whereas, with regard to the technical specifications of the model driving licence model, this Directive applies the 'new approach` to technical harmonized standards by establishing a general framework for the specifications leaving detailed requirements to industrial standardization procedures,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

Directive 91/439/EEC is hereby amended as follows:

1. Article 1 (1) and Article 2 (3) are amended by adding 'or Ia` after 'Annex I`.

2. A new annex, Annex Ia, as defined in the Annex of the present Directive, is added.

Article 2

1. After consulting the Commission, Member States shall adopt the laws, regulations or administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive as of 1 July 1996.

2. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such a reference shall be laid down by the Member States.

Article 3

This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

Article 4

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

(1) OJ No L 237, 24. 8. 1991, p. 1.

(2) OJ No L 337, 24. 12. 1994, p. 86.

(3) OJ No L 370, 31. 12. 1985, p. 8.

ANNEX

'Annex Ia

PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE COMMUNITY MODEL DRIVING LICENCE

(Alternative to the model of Annex I)

1. The Community model driving licence shall have the following characteristics:

- physical characteristics of the card in accordance with ISO 7810 and ISO 7816-1,

- dimensions and location of the contacts in accordance with ISO 7816-2,

- electronic signals and transmission protocols in accordance with ISO 7816-3,

- interindustry commands for interchange in accordance with ISO 7816-4 (draft).

Methods for testing the characteristics of driving licences for the purpose of confirming their compliance with the international standards shall be in accordance with ISO 10373.

2. The licence shall have two sides

Page 1 shall contain:

(a) The words "Driving Licence" printed in large type in the language or languages of the Member States issuing the licence.

(b) The name of the Member State issuing the licence (optional).

(c) The distinguishing sign of the Member State issuing the licence, printed in negative in a blue rectangle and encircled by 12 yellow stars: the distinguishing signs shall be as follows:

>TABLE>

(d) Information specific to the licence issued shall be printed as follows:

1. surname of the holder;

2. other name(s) of the holder;

3. date and place of birth;

4a. date of issue of the licence;

4b. date of expiry of the licence;

4c. the name of the issuing authority (may be printed on page 2);

5. number of the licence;

6. photograph of the holder;

7. signature of the holder;

(8.) permanent place of residence, or postal address (optional);

9. (sub)category(ies) of vehicle(s) the holder is entitled to drive (national categories shall be printed in a different type from harmonized categories);

(e) The words "European Communities model" in the language(s) of the Member State issuing the licence and the words "Driving Licence", in the other languages of the European Community shall be printed in pink to form the background of the licence.

Permisio de Conducción

Koerekort

Fuehrerschein

¶aeaaéá ÏaeÞãçóçò

Driving Licence

Ajokortti

Permis de Conduire

Ceadúnas Tiomána

Patente di guida

Rijbewijs

Carta de Condução

Koerkort;

(f) Colour references:

- blue: pantone reflex blue C,

- yellow: pantone yellow 2.

Additional colours and/or security features may be added after consultation with the Commission.

Page 2 shall contain:

(a) 9. (sub) category(ies) of vehicle(s) the holder is entitled to drive (national categories shall be printed in another character type than harmonized categories);

10. date of first issue of each (sub)category (this date must be repeated on the new licence in the event of subsequent replacement or exchange);

11. date of expiry of each (sub)category;

12. additional information/restriction(s), in code form, facing the (sub)category affected.

The codes shall be as follows:

>TABLE>

Where a code applies to all (sub)categories issued it may be printed under columns 9, 10 and 11.

(b) An explanation of the numbered entries which appear on page 1 of the licence (at least entries 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11 and 12).

If a Member State wishes to make the entries in a national language other than one of the following languages: Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, it will draw up a bilingual version of the licence using one of the abovementioned languages, without prejudice to the other provisions of this Annex.

(c) A microchip (optional).

Apart from the provisions laid down in point 1 of this Annex, the specifications relating to the microchip shall be specified later.

(d) After consultation with the Commission, additional colours or markings (e.g. bar codes, national symbols, security features, etc.) may be added, without prejudice to the other provisions of this Annex.

3. Special provisions

(a) The model licence of this Annex shall be valid for a maximum of 10 years.

(b) Where the driving licence card is equipped with a microchip, the holder shall have access to the information in its memory.

COMMUNITY MODEL DRIVING LICENCE

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SPECIMEN COMMUNITY MODEL DRIVING LICENCE: BELGIAN LICENCE

(for information)

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