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Third Driving Licence Directive - A Second Reading in Name Only?

Issued 12th October 2006

The adoption of the draft directive on driving licences without amendments was proposed at the last meeting of the Transport Committee of the European Parliament. FEMA opposes this action and calls for a full second reading as normally provided for within the co-decision procedure.

On Tuesday October 10th, the draft directive on European driving licences began a second reading by the European Parliament. Following the compromise of the Member States at the Council meeting of March 27th, the European Parliament Transport Committee is now considering a recommendation to accept this compromise without further amendments.

The Federation of European Motorcyclists’ Associations strongly opposes the current motorcycle provisions contained in the text and is particularly concerned by this attempt to bypass the full normal 2nd reading in the Plenary, as provided for within the co-decision procedure.

The motorcycle provisions claim to improve motorcycle safety, but will do little in this sense. FEMA argues that the new scheme would only complicate and increase the cost of motorcycle licensing, indeed having the opposite effect by making it more difficult to obtain the necessary skills and experience in a progressive way and therefore opting to wait and directly access full-powered motorcycles. The iniquitous side effect of these provisions would be actually to reduce motorcycle accidents by preventing people from taking up motorcycling! FEMA rejects this approach which is considered to be discriminatory and inconsistent with the principles of the European Union.

FEMA argues that the position of the Council of Ministers reached in March makes a mockery of the objective of a harmonized approach and that the only purpose of the Council’s amendments will be to satisfy the Member States’ sense of identity.

FEMA believes that there is still time to improve the current version of the draft directive and calls for Members of the European Parliament to ensure that the text goes through a full second reading process.

END

Note to editors:

1. FEMA detailed position on the 3rd Driving Licence Directive can be found following this link: HERE pdf

2. Details of the co-decision procedure: HERE

Issued by

Aline Delhaye

FEMA General Secretary

FEMA - Federation of European Motorcyclists Associations
Rue des Champs 62,
1040 Brussels,
Belgium

Tel: +32 (0)2 736 9047 / Fax: +32 (0)2 736 9401

www.fema.ridersrights.org

Don’t forget to sign the petition on the campaign website Here