European Union

In today's edition: hydrogen, power cable priorities, particulate matter

Plus SAFE plans, PURL pledges, and German-Polish cooperation

Length of video : 30'

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Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

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In today's edition: This week's agenda

Stichting Right to Consumer Justice and Stichting App Stores Claims
Area of Freedom, Security and Justice
The Netherlands courts have jurisdiction to hear a representative action concerning the alleged anticompetitive conduct of Apple in relation to its App Store aimed at the Netherlands market

In today's edition: Chips 2.0 priorities, lobbyists' omnibus, DNA back at RSB, Shein vs France

In 2025, the EU adopted new rules on driving licences with the aim of reducing the number of accidents on EU roads. The rules introduce:

• digital EU driving licences that can be accessed on mobile phones and used throughout the EU;
• an EU-wide accompanied driving scheme for 17-year‑old drivers;
• an EU-wide probationary period of at least two years for new drivers.

In addition, the rules harmonise a number of aspects:

a. Validity

Driving licences will be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars. EU countries can reduce this period to 10 years if the licence can be used as a national ID. Truck and bus licences need to be renewed every five years. EU countries can shorten the validity of driving licences of drivers who are 65 years or older.

b. Physical and mental fitness to drive

Before their first licence, a driver has to pass a medical and eyesight check. For car and motorcycle licences, EU countries can decide to replace the medical check with a self-assessment.

In terms of driving under the influence of alcohol, EU countries must have stricter rules or sanctions for novice drivers than for experienced drivers. They can also decide to have a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol and drugs (i.e. banning consumption for all drivers).

c. Licences from non-EU countries

Licences from non-EU countries with road safety standards similar to the EU’s can be exchanged for a licence that is valid throughout the EU. Together with EU countries, the Commission will decide to which non-EU countries this applies.

d. Licences in EU countries of citizenship

The new rules also allow citizens living abroad to get their first category B (passenger car) licence in their EU country of citizenship. This applies if the EU country they live in does not provide interpretation or translation in the citizen’s EU language for the practical or theoretical tests.

e. New driving test requirements

Theory and practical tests must place more emphasis on the safety of vulnerable road users, such as children, pedestrians, cyclists and users of e-scooters. Drivers will also have to learn about:

• distraction risks and the safety consequences of phone usage while driving;
• blind spot risks and the safe opening of doors;
• driving in snow and slippery conditions;
• advanced driving assistance systems (such as lane centring) and other automated technologies;
• environmental aspects of vehicle use;
• charging of electric vehicles.

f. Driving alternative fuel vehicles

The new rules allow a person with a category B licence to drive vehicles powered by alternative energy sources, such as electricity, hydrogen or biofuels (including emergency vehicles) up to a weight of 4.25 tonnes (instead of 3.5 tonnes). This is because those vehicles are often heavier, for example because of the weight of batteries.

g. Minimum age

The EU can lower the minimum age for getting a licence to 15 years (for heavy quadricycles or vehicles under 2.5 tonnes and with a maximum speed of 45 km/h) only within their territory and after securing the agreement of the Commission.

The minimum age to get a truck licence has been lowered from 21 to 18 years, and for a bus driving licence from 24 to 21 years, if the applicant has a certificate of professional competence. EU countries can allow 17-year-olds to drive a truck or van on their territory (only if accompanied by an experienced driver).

EU countries have until November 2028 to incorporate these rules into their national laws. Rules will start applying from November 2029 at the latest.

Cross-border driving bans

The EU has also adopted new rules to ensure that serious road traffic offenders are held responsible throughout the EU. EU countries will have to inform each other of driving offences and recognise driving bans in specific circumstances. The rules apply to driving bans imposed because of:

• drink-driving or driving under the influence of drugs;
• excessive speeding;
• infringing road traffic regulations and causing death or serious injuries to others.

When an EU country imposes a ban of at least three months, and the driver has exhausted all courses of action against that decision, the EU country where the driver’s licence was issued will be notified.

The EU country that issued the licence will then notify the driver – when possible – within 20 working days and will decide whether to impose a driving ban that applies across the EU.

In certain cases, for example if the driver’s right to be heard in court was not complied with, or speeding did not exceed 50km/h, the EU country that issued the licence can decide to exempt the driver and not implement a ban.

Keep sending your questions to the Citizens’ Enquiries Unit (Ask EP)! We reply in the EU language that you use to write to us.

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The proposal for a Global Europe instrument is included in the post-2027 multiannual financial framework (MFF) package, which aims to be simpler than previous regulations and to provide additional flexibility (over and above MFF ceilings). The new instrument merges the Neighbourhood, Development, International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe; the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, humanitarian aid; the Ukraine Facility, the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans; and the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova. The impact assessment (IA) focuses on the six corresponding regulations. It falls under the Better Regulation Tool #9 (special case of preparing a new MFF); the scope and depth of analysis are therefore different compared with a non-MFF IA. Although the IA provides an intervention logic and defines the drivers, the problem definition remains vague and unclear. Moreover, the interlinks with objectives and drivers are not detailed in the intervention logic. In accordance with the Better Regulation Requirements, the IA assesses the expected economic, social and environmental impacts for the three policy options. It also compares and rates them against the Better Regulation criteria of effectiveness, efficiency and coherence. Proportionality and subsidiarity are not assessed in the IA, not even in the policy options. In terms of monitoring and evaluation, the IA is limited on data collection methods and on how progress will be measured. The evidence from previous evaluations could have been better integrated in the IA and be used to provide quantitative estimates. The Regulatory Scrutiny Board decided to issue an opinion without qualification given the lack of fundamental elements in this IA. The legislative proposal is aligned with the IA's preferred option.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On Monday, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement on revised rules for the EU’s preferential trade arrangement with developing countries.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On Monday, Parliament and Council negotiators reached a provisional agreement on revised rules for the EU’s preferential trade arrangement with developing countries.
Committee on International Trade

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP