Strasbourg, 7 October 2024
On Monday, transport MEPs voted to start trialogues on driving licence, driving disqualification, maximum weights and dimensions in traffic, railway capacity and maritime safety rules. European Parliament has already adopted its position on five files before the European elections that took place in June and left it for a new Parliament to decide if to open the interinstitutional negotiations with Council.
Driving licence
Mobile driving licences, self-assessment of fitness to drive, better awareness of pedestrians, probationary two year driving period for novice drivers and accompanied driving for 17-years-olds were some of the changes to EU driving licence rules introduced by MEPs in February 2024. MEPs on the Transport and Tourism Committee voted to start talks with Council to agree on these changes by 37 votes to three and one abstention.
Driving disqualification
To ensure that suspension, restriction or withdrawal of a non-resident’s driving licence is applied across all EU countries, MEPs in February backed new rules which demand that this decision is passed on to the EU country which issued the driving licence. Today Transport MEPs followed-up on this position and decided to start trialogues by 36 votes to four and one abstention.
Maximum weights and dimensions
The revision of road transport weights and dimensions rules, voted by Parliament in March, aims to give an incentive for the transport industry to switch to cleaner vehicles by giving the additional loading capacity to zero emission trucks and busses and making them more competitive than their conventional alternatives. The decision to start trialogues on these rules was supported by 30 votes to nine and two abstentions.
Railway infrastructure capacity
The new rules set the conditions on the planning and allocation of railway infrastructure capacity in the EU in order to allow for more optimal use of the rail tracks, increase punctuality and reliability and also help to reduce transport-related emissions. Parliament has adopted its position on these rules back in March and with 38 votes to three and one abstention decided today to enter into interinstitutional negotiations.
European Maritime Safety Agency
European Maritime Safety Agency should be better equipped to help member states in green transition, situational awareness and training on crew working conditions, said Parliament in March. Transport MEPs followed-up on this position and decided to start trialogues by 37 votes to one and two abstentions.
Next steps
Transport MEPs decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations on mentioned files paves the way for Parliament and Council negotiators to agree on negotiations schedule.