Directive (EU) 2018/645 amending Directive 2003/59/EC on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers and Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences

Further information:

The European Commission adopted on 1 February 2017 a proposal to amend Directive 2003/59/EC on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers and Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences.

The purpose was to amend a set of identified shortcomings, such as:

+ difficulties for drivers to obtain recognition of the training undertaken in another Member State;
+ training content only partially relevant to drivers’ needs;
+ difficulties and legal uncertainties regarding the interpretation of exemptions;
+ inconsistencies between Directive 2003/59/EC and Directive 2006/126/EC when it comes to the minimum age requirements;
+ ambiguity concerning the possibility to combine training under Directive 2003/59/EC with the training courses required under other pieces of EU legislation;
+ lack of clarity concerning the use of ICT for training courses.

The Council of the European Union agreed its general approach to the proposal in June 2017. The European Parliament's TRAN committee adopted its report on the draft law in October 2017. Trilogue negotiations resulted in a provisional agreement on the proposal on 12 December which was endorsed by Coreper for the Council on 20 December. The text, eventually endorsed by the EP Transport and Tourism Committee on 23 January 2018, was largely approved at first reading by the EP Plenary on 13 March. It was formally endorsed by the Council on 12 April.

Background information:

Directive 2003/59/EC lays down the initial qualification and periodic training requirements for professional drivers of trucks and buses, thus improving safety on European roads. Member States were given significant flexibility in how they implement the Directive.

In July 2012, the European Commission published a Report on the implementation of the Directive which identified a number of shortcomings. The ex-post evaluation of the Directive, including a stakeholder consultation, was completed in October 2014. The evaluation concluded that the Directive had been implemented without major problems. It had improved labour mobility and contributed to the free movement of drivers. The evaluation confirmed that the Directive had made an effective contribution to its primary objective of ensuring road safety. The evaluation also identified several specific issues regarding consistency with other EU legislation.

+ EPRS: Implementation Appraisal [November 2016]: Training of professional drivers

EUR-Lex: COM(2017)47: Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 2003/59/EC on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers and Directive 2006/126/EC on driving licences http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2017:047:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2017)26: Executive summary of the impact assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2017:026:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2017)27: Impact assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2017:027:FIN

EPRS: Briefing: Ex-Ante Impact Assessment [May 2017]: Initial qualification, periodic training and minimum age of professional drivers of certain road vehicles http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2017)603224

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 12.04.18: Updated rules on lorry and bus drivers' training adopted by the Council http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/04/12/updated-rules-on-lorry-and-bus-drivers-training-adopted-by-the-council/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 08.06.17: Training for lorry and bus drivers to focus more on safety – Council agrees its position http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/06/08-tte-training-lorry-bus-drivers/

Legislative Train: Drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers: initial qualification and periodic training; driving licences http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-deeper-and-fairer-internal-market-with-a-strengthened-industrial-base-services-including-transport/file-training-of-professional-drivers

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers: initial qualification and periodic training; driving licences http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil-mobile/fiche-procedure/2017/0015(COD)

EPRS: Briefing [November 2017]: Training of professional drivers http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/ro/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2017)603924

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