Brussels, 19/11/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission decided on Thursday 19 November to refer the Czech Republic, Estonia, Italy, Portugal and Slovenia to the Court of Justice of the EU for failing to correctly transpose the European rules on driving licences (Directive 2006/126/EC).
The Czech Republic failed, over the period 2004-2011, to ensure that driving licences were only issued to persons residing in the country.
The Commission states that “driving licences issued in the past in contradiction with Directive 2006/126/EC which are still valid pose a risk to the credibility of the EU driving licence system and to road safety”. In addition, the Czech Republic has also failed to fulfil several other obligations, such as ensuring that the categories of certain vehicles correspond to those of the directive.
The other member states are being referred to the Court for failing to connect to the EU driving licences network (RESPER). The exchange of information through RESPER should have started on 19 January 2013. This network seeks to help member states cooperate with each other and ensure that licences are issued in accordance with EU rules. It also seeks to facilitate citizens' freedom of movement and improve road safety by making sure that a member state does not issue a driving licence to a driver who has already had his/her licence withdrawn or suspended in another member state. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)