WRITTEN QUESTION E-1831/02 by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission. EU driving licence.
Date: 2002-06-27
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: European citizenship, European driving licence, approximation of laws, competence of the Member States, medical examination

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/167

Given that the project is receiving EU funding, can the Commission say to what extent it is in accordance
with European environmental law and whether an environmental impact assessment has been carried out
in this regard?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-1808/02 and E-1809/02
given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(19 July 2002)

The competent national or
programmes part-financed by the Structural Funds.

regional authorities are responsible for choosing projects under

the

According to the information received from the Greek authorities, when the project in question was
included in the Peloponnese Operational Programme under the second Community support framework
(1994-1999), the Greek Ministry of the Environment exempted the prefecture of Messinia from the
impact study. This exemption was subject to a number of
requirement to conduct an environmental
binding conditions on environmental protection that were clearly notified to the final beneficiary.

During project implementation, both the above Ministry and the regional authorities undertook a series of
checks and on-the-spot visits to ensure that these conditions were being complied with, among other
things.

The checks found that the conditions had not been satisfactorily met. So, in January 2001 the authority
responsible for implementing the programme had the works in question stopped and asked the contractor
to conduct a number of additional studies that would serve as a technical basis for completing the work
and restoring the site.

(2002/C 309 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1831/02

by Graham Watson (ELDR) to the Commission

(27 June 2002)

Subject: EU driving licence

Has the Commission considered instigating an EU driving licence, alleviating the problems caused by
different national legislation across the EU?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(1 August 2002)

On the subject of driving licences, the Commission would draw the Honourable Member’s attention to
Council Directive 91/439/EEC (1), which entered into force on 1 July 1996. The Directive provides for the
mutual recognition of all driving licences issued in the Member States. However, some differences between
the national laws do exist as the principle of mutual recognition is explicitly limited in Article 1(3) of the
Directive, which states that Member States may apply their national rules on periods of validity of licences
and the intervals at which medical checks must be carried out.

Since the Member States are still responsible for determining the period of validity, the rules are not the
same throughout the European Union and this creates an unclear situation for its citizens. The fact that the
period of validity is not always linked to the regular medical checks contributes to this complexity and this
has been recognised by the Court of Justice (2).

The Commission is currently considering the advisability of preparing a proposal for a Directive amending
Directive 91/439/EEC to remedy this situation, with utmost regard for the principle of subsidiarity.

C 309 E/168

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

In order to clarify the provisions in force with regard to driving licences for the public and the authorities
concerned before any gradual harmonisation can be envisaged, the Commission adopted an Interpretative
Communication on driver licensing (3) on 25 March 2002.

(1) Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences, OJ L 237, 24.8.1991.
(2) See judgment of 29 February 1996, Case C-193/94 Skanavi, section 27.
(3) OJ C 77, 28.3.2002.

(2002/C 309 E/195)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1833/02

by Jorge Hernández Mollar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(27 June 2002)

Subject: Commission aid for the creation of the European General Council for Youth

The objective on the part of European youth movements of creating a European General Youth Council is
a response to the perceived need for an instrument which would bring together the youth movements of
the countries of Europe, thus making it possible to express positions on matters of particular interest to
young people on a Community-wide basis, and to put forward, on a consultative basis, proposals for
dealing with young people’s problems and realising their aspirations.

The proposal to create such a European General Youth Council deserves strong encouragement from the
Community authorities, given its potential for moving beyond purely local and national interests and
breaking down physical and psychological barriers.

Does the Commission consider that it should contribute to consolidating the idea of a European General
Youth Council, which would serve as a forum enabling young people in the Member States to seek
solutions to the problems confronting them and propose responses to the challenges thrown up by
European integration?

Answer given by Mrs Reding on behalf of the Commission

(4 September 2002)

The Commission shares the view of
framework for listening to the young people of Europe.

the Honourable Member on the importance of promoting a

It was with this in mind that the Commission produced the White Paper entitled ‘A New Impetus for
European Youth’ (1), whose adoption in November 2001 was preceded by wide-ranging consultations of
young people. These consultations revealed inter alia a wish among young people to get more involved in
society, thus making ‘participation’ one of the priorities of the White Paper.

It is with a view to promoting such participation that one of the proposals contained in the White Paper
aims to consolidate a European youth consultation structure.

With this in mind, rather than support the creation of a new structure, as proposed by the Honourable
Member, the Commission proposes in its White Paper that the European Youth Forum, which it has been
funding since 1979 and whose membership consists of National Youth Councils and non-governmental
youth organisations, should form the basis of a European youth consultation structure, while asking it to
become more accessible to young people who are not members of youth organisations and without
excluding direct youth consultations.

(1) COM(2001) 681 final.