Opinion of the Commission pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, on the European Parliament's amendments to the Council's common position regarding the proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences (Recast) amending the proposal of the Commission pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty
Date: 2006-12-18
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European driving licence, driving licence, harmonisation of standards, mutual recognition principle

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 18.12.2006 
COM(2006) 859 final 

2003/0252 (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, 
on the European Parliament's amendments 
to the Council's common position regarding the  
proposal for a 

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on driving licences (Recast) 

AMENDING THE PROPOSAL OF THE COMMISSION 
pursuant to Article 250 (2) of the EC Treaty 

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2003/0252 (COD) 

OPINION OF THE COMMISSION 

pursuant to Article 251 (2), third subparagraph, point (c) of the EC Treaty, 
on the European Parliament's amendments 
to the Council's common position regarding the  
proposal for a 

DIRECTIVE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 

on driving licences (Recast) 

(Text with EEA relevance) 

1. 

INTRODUCTION 

Article  251(2),  third  subparagraph,  point  (c)  of  the  EC  Treaty  requires  the  Commission  to 
deliver an opinion on amendments proposed by the European Parliament at second reading. 
The Commission sets out its opinion below on the amendments proposed by Parliament. 

2. 

BACKGROUND 

Date  of  transmission  of  the  proposal  to  the  EP  and  the  Council 
(COM(2003) 621 –2003/0252(COD)): 

3 December 2003

Date of the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee: 

31 March 2004

Date of the opinion of the European Parliament, first reading: 

23 February 2005

Date of adoption of the common position by qualified majority: 

18 September 2006

Date of the opinion of the European Parliament, second reading  

14 December 2006

3. 

PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSAL 

On 21 October 2003, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive on driving licences, 
which is a proposal to recast and therefore replace Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences 
and its successive amendments1. The three main objectives of the proposal are as follows:  

(1) 
to  reduce  the  possibilities  of  fraud:  elimination  of  the  possibility  of  issuing  a 
paper  driving  licence  model  in  favour  of  a  plastic  card  model  only;  possibility  of 
introducing a microchip on the driving licence; introduction of limited administrative 
validity for all new licences issued from the date of application of the proposal; 

1 

Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29 July 1991 on driving licences, OJ L 237 of 24 August 1991, p.1, 
as last  amended  by  Commission  Directive  2000/56/EC  of  14  September  2000,  OJ  L  237  of 
21 September 2000, p.45. 

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(2) 
to  guarantee  the  free  movement  of  citizens  by  means  of  introducing  limited 
administrative  validity  and  by  harmonising  the  frequency  of  medical  checks  for 
professional drivers; 

to  contribute  to  improving  road  safety:  introduction  of  a  driving  licence  for 
(3) 
mopeds; extension of the principle of progressive access to driving licences for the 
most  powerful  types  of  vehicles;  introduction  of  minimum  requirements  for  the 
initial  qualification  and  periodic  training  of  driving  examiners;  confirmation  of  the 
principle of holding a single driving licence (one holder - one licence). 

4. 

OPINION  OF  THE  COMMISSION  ON  THE  AMENDMENTS  ADOPTED  BY  THE 
PARLIAMENT 

The  Commission  can  accept  all  the  amendments  adopted  by  the  European  Parliament  in 
second  reading.  They  intend  to  bring  the  new  Directive  on  driving  licences  in  line  with  the 
Council  Decision  of  17  July  2006  amending  Decision  1999/468/EC  laying  down  the 
procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission.  

5. 

CONCLUSION 

Pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty, the Commission amends its proposal as set out 
above. 

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