Strasbourg, 11/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 11 February in Strasbourg, the European Parliament approved (640 votes for, 6 against, with 61 abstentions) the revision of the legal basis of the directive introducing the exchange of information between member states on road offences. In compliance with the wishes of the European Court of Justice, transport is now the legal basis and no longer legal cooperation.
The directive on the exchange of cross-border information on road offences is now applicable throughout the European Union. It is estimated that this will help save 400 lives a year.
European-wide application. MEPs confirm the informal agreement obtained on this dossier with the Council last December (see EUROPE 11216). The new legal basis renders the opt-out decreed by Denmark, the United Kingdom and Ireland, null and void. In two years' time, these three countries will also have to share information about their national drivers who infringe the Highway Code in other member states. The directive is already correctly applied in around 20 other member states (see EUROPE 11207).
The infringements involve speeding, not wearing a safety belt or helmet, burning a red light, driving on a forbidden lane, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and using the telephone whilst driving.
Data protection. During the debate preceding the vote, MEPs expressed concern about data protection during information exchanges between member states. The Commissioner for Transport, Violeta Bulc, provided assurances that the fundamental rights of respect for private life were guaranteed because member states will not be allowed to consult national databases apart from in specific ad hoc procedures. The Commissioner confirmed that her services would already proceed to an evaluation of the application of directive by 2016 and the way it is helping contribute to reducing road accidents. The Commission is seeking to reduce the number of fatalities on the roads by half by 2020 (compared to figures for 2010). (Marie-Pauline Desset)