Brussels, 25/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament transport committee approved, on Tuesday 24 May, recommendations for the second reading relating to the draft directive on crossborder prosecution for driving offences. In order to safeguard the fragile compromise reached between member states, Rapporteur Inès Ayala Sender (S&D, Spain) decided not to introduce, during second reading, any substantial changes to the common position approved by Council (see EUROPE 10296). The report thus supports the change in the legal base of the draft directive (police cooperation rather than transport). In exchange, at the instigation of the rapporteur, MEPs call for the directive to include substantial review clauses and obligations to draft reports with a view to ensuring the good functioning of the system. MEPs also call for harmonisation of the basic principles of the Highway Code, as well as the establishment of common standards for control and penalty procedures. Such measures would contribute to reducing the number of road deaths in the EU, MEPs said during the debate prior to the vote. The draft directive is currently the subject of negotiation between the Council and Parliament with a view to an agreement in second reading. The report will be voted in plenary session in July. (A.By./transl.jl)