On the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving… licences, amending Directive (EU) 2022/2561 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 383/2012

on the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences, amending Directive (EU) 2022/2561 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 383/2012 (08353/1/2025 – C100233/2025 – 2023/0053(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: second reading)

The European Parliament,

–having regard to the Council position at first reading (08353/1/2025 – C100233/2025),

–having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 14 June 2023,

–after consulting the Committee of the Regions,

–having regard to its position at first reading on the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2023)0127),

–having regard to Article 294(7) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

–having regard to the provisional agreement approved by the committee responsible under Rule 75(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

–having regard to Rule 68 of its Rules of Procedure,

–having regard to the recommendation for second reading of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (A100000/2025),

1.Approves the Council position at first reading;

2.Notes that the act is adopted in accordance with the Council position;

3.Instructs its President to sign the act with the President of the Council, in accordance with Article 297(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

4.Instructs its Secretary-General to sign the act, once it has been verified that all the; procedures have been duly completed, and, in agreement with the Secretary-General of the Council, to arrange for its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union;

5.Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

The Council position at first reading reflects the political agreement reached between the Parliament and the Council during interinstitutional negotiations at early second-reading stage.

The adopted provisions aim to enhance road safety and facilitate the free movement of persons by introducing mutually recognisable EU mobile driving licences, amending and clarifying minimum age requirements, establishing basic medical fitness requirements and default validity periods for driving licences, as well as strengthening rules for novice drivers, introducing Union-wide accompanied driving schemes for certain categories of licences, and setting specific rules for certain types of vehicles, such as emergency vehicles, motorhomes, or alternatively fuelled vehicles.

The agreed text is the result of extensive negotiations. The co-legislators have reached a balanced compromise on the revision of the Driving Licences Directive, ensuring that it reflects current needs and realities.