Labour MEP Richard Corbett will give his backing to the proposals for a new Europe-wide driving licence to be voted on in the European Parliament next week.

The licence, which will be phased in over the next 20 years, will give a boost to freedom of movement for people in Britain and throughout Europe. It will also improve road safety and help the police tackle forgery, terrorism and organised crime.

Richard said:

"The great dividing line in Europe is between the reformers and the wreckers. It's no surprise that the wreckers in the Tory party and UKIP oppose this sensible and practical measure which will bring long-term benefits to millions of British and other EU citizens.

"The reformers, including British Labour MEPs, have worked hard to ensure this measure focuses on three clear goals:

• guaranteeing true freedom of movement to EU drivers;

• combating driving licence fraud and impersonation;

• improving road safety.

"At present, there is considerable scope for fraud, with 110 different models of driving licence in the EU. This is particularly important as driving licences are increasingly used as a means of identification e.g. when taking flights between the UK and the Irish Republic.

"The first step will be the phasing out of paper driving licences. That could take up to ten years. After that all European driving licences will be the plastic credit card type already in use in several countries, including the UK. Over the next ten years these plastic licences would evolve into a single European licence."

"It is important to stress that existing driving rights will not be affected. We have removed controversial proposals for medical checks for over 45-year-olds and we've scrapped plans to make people over 65 apply for a new licence every five years.

"We also got rid of proposals for drivers towing caravans to need a special licence.

"It is an example of how the reformers have worked hard to focus on what really matters and to get a European law that is practical and benefits all our citizens.

"The Tory and UKIP wreckers are happy to see the current tangle of 110 different driving documents continue - despite the fact that this makes it much harder for the police to do their job.

"When the wreckers start to rant, people should listen instead to what British police officers say - that the new documents will make it easier for them to make our roads safe and fight terrorism and organised crime."

The new plastic cards will be valid for ten years and then they will need to be replaced. This is already the case in the UK. Individual countries can opt to have a microchip in the card.

Richard said:

"One of the aims of this measure is to tackle fraud and it makes sense to ensure that the latest technological advances are used to make licences forgery-proof.

"The new measure will help police crack down on what's been called driving licence tourism - people who are banned in one country taking out a licence in another. The EU plan seeks to stop this by obliging member states to investigate applications for licences and to refuse a licence to anyone banned in another country."

back to press releases

contact us

more information

Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP

• phone 0113 245 8987
• e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk