The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee has voted in favour of a provisional deal on the EU Driving Licence Directive, bringing the proposed reforms one step closer to becoming law. The agreement, reached in March following trilogue negotiations between the Parliament and the Council, introduces a harmonised digital driving licence and lowers the minimum age for professional truck drivers.
The new rules aim to modernise driving licence legislation across the EU in line with digitalisation goals, while also addressing the bloc’s growing shortage of professional drivers.
Under the revised directive, truck drivers will be able to obtain their licence from the age of 18, provided they hold the mandatory Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). This lowers the minimum age from the current threshold of 21. According to lawmakers, the move is intended to help transport operators attract younger talent into the sector.
The changes were endorsed by the TRAN Committee on Wednesday by 36 votes to six. A parallel agreement on cross-border recognition of driving disqualifications was also approved, aiming to close existing loopholes that have allowed dangerous drivers to escape penalties by moving between EU member states.
The digital transition is another core element of the package. The directive introduces a digital EU-wide driving licence, to be available via the European Digital Identity Wallet by the end of 2030. Drivers will still be entitled to request a physical version if they prefer.
“Europe is serious about supporting its transport workforce”
Industry reaction to the committee vote has been largely positive. The International Road Transport Union (IRU) welcomed the outcome, calling it a “key milestone” for the road transport sector.
“This sends a clear message that Europe is serious about supporting its transport workforce, through legal clarity, digitalisation and clearer recognition of third-country drivers’ skills,” said IRU EU Advocacy Director Raluca Marian.
The IRU also praised the new provisions allowing accompanied driving schemes from the age of 17 for licence categories B, C, C1 and C1E, where member states choose to implement them. These schemes are designed to help young drivers gain supervised experience before operating commercial vehicles independently.
The agreement additionally paves the way for an EU-level framework to facilitate the exchange of driving licences issued by third countries that meet EU standards. While this is seen as a step forward, the IRU criticised the deal for not going far enough in addressing barriers to employment for foreign professional drivers.
“Without mutual recognition of their professional driving qualifications, third-country drivers remain unable to be employed by EU operators. This gap needs to be addressed to unlock the full potential of third-country talent,” Marian added.
The European Parliament is expected to vote on the directive in plenary this autumn. Final approval by the Council will follow. Once adopted, member states will be required to transpose the directive into national law, with implementation periods ranging from four to six years, depending on the measure.
