WRITTEN QUESTION E-2432/00 by Marjo Matikainen-Kallström (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Return of driving licence to persons repeatedly convicted of extreme drunken driving.
Date: 2000-07-18
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: alcoholic beverage, approximation of laws, competence of the Member States, driving licence, fine, penalty

13.3.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 81 E/199

(2001/C 81 E/253)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2432/00

by Marjo Matikainen-Kallstr(cid:246)m (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(18 July 2000)

Subject: Return of driving licence to persons repeatedly convicted of extreme drunken driving

The European Union is currently seeking to harmonise the blood alcohol level leading to a conviction
for drunken driving at 50 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. At the same time consideration ought
also to be given to the conditions under which persons repeatedly convicted of extreme drunken driving
(e.g. in Finland over 100 mg of alcohol) can have their driving licences returned. In addition to the simple
driving ban, it might be advisable to insist that repeat offenders provide a doctor(cid:146)s opinion. It would be
possible to make the return of the driving licence conditional on a medical certificate determining the
seriousness of the drunken driver(cid:146)s alcohol dependence.

What measures does the Commission propose to take to harmonise practice in the EU states concerning
the return of the licence to persons convicted of extreme drunken driving?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(13 September 2000)

The Commission is seeking, by way of a new recommendation, to encourage a more harmonised regime
of maximum legal blood alcohol
levels, based around a general maximum level no higher than
50 milligram per milliliter (mg/ml) and with a lower maximum level of no higher than 20 mg/ml for
special categories of driver. Drivers caught above these levels would be, as they are now, penalised subject
to national legislation which may take the form of criminal conviction or administrative fine.

Furthermore the Commission does not propose any new measures concerning the return of a driving
licence following conviction for (cid:145)extreme drunken driving(cid:146). Penalties fall outside the competence of
European legislation. In addition, the definition of (cid:145)extreme drunken driving(cid:146) is one that is set at national
and not European level. At a more general level, in 1998 the Member States did agree on the mutual
recognition of driving disqualifications within the framework of the Convention on driving disqualifica-
tions (1). However the Convention remains to be ratified by the Member States.

(1) OJ C 216, 10.7.1998.

(2001/C 81 E/254)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2439/00

by Camilo Nogueira RomÆn (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(19 July 2000)

Subject: Porto airport and solving Galicia(cid:146)s international air links problem

The Galician press has reported that the Portuguese Government intends to invest in extending Porto
airport so that it will be able to handle six million passengers in the year 2003. This involves attracting a
large part of the Galician international air travel market. Meanwhile, the Spanish authorities and the flag-
carrying Spanish airline refuse to allow Santiago de Compostela airport to have any direct international
links, which have to be made via Madrid or Barcelona.