Veiligheid op de weg: Portugal en Ierland gedaagd voor EU-Hof wegens niet-naleving EU-regelgeving (en)

The Commission decided today to lodge a complaint to the Court of Justice against Ireland and Portugal for failure to respect EU legislation^[1] on new minimum standards for theory and practical driving tests for all categories of driving licences. "It is unfortunate that a piece of legislation that reinforces road safety has still not been fully transposed throughout the EU", Vice-President Loyola de Palacio said.

The Directive adapts the minimum standards to scientific and technological progress in the field. It aims at further harmonising driving tests and bringing the testing requirements into line with the demands of road safety by increasing the minimum examination level.

Member States had to bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with it not later than 30 September 2003. ;Ireland and Portugal have not informed the Commission of measures to transpose the Directive into national legislation.

Since the deadline of 30 September 2003, the Commission has taken all the procedural steps necessary under Article 226 of the Treaty to bring the cases to the Court (letters of formal notice sent on 25 November 2003 followed by reasoned opinions on 1 April 2004). The speed of this procedure is an illustration of the Commission's determination to ensure that Member States implement correctly and on time the measures they have themselves agreed

^[1] Commission Directive 2000/56/EC of 14 September 2000 amending Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences (OJ L 237, 21.9.2000, p. 45)