Representatives of the European Parliament and of the EU Council met in Strasbourg on Tuesday 22 October to begin inter-institutional negotiations (trilogue) on the revision of the Driving Licence Directive (see EUROPE 13360/9).
According to a European source, the Hungarian Presidency of the Council presented a summary of the opening trilogue to the Council working party on Thursday 24 October. The trilogue was attended by the new chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN), Eliza Vozemberg (EPP, Greek), and the new rapporteur, Jutta Paulus (Greens/EFA, German).
The most important issues for the Council were highlighted (see EUROPE 13306/3), namely: - minimum age and the accompanied driving scheme; - the mobile driving licence; - the screening of medical fitness, where many similarities can be found.
The European Parliament focused on five issues: - alternative fuels; - the baseline for alcohol and drugs; - the mobile driving licence; - addressing the shortage of HGV drivers; - true internal market facilitation.
The Parliament would like to start discussions as soon as possible, but also stressed that its timetable was tight due to the hearings for the European Commissioners-designate in early November.
The Parliament indicated that it wanted further legal clarification on alternative fuels. (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)