EP ADOPTS PROPOSAL TO EASE REQUIREMENTS FOR UKRAINIAN DRIVERS IN THE EU
On 7 July, the European Parliament unanimously adopted its position on the proposal setting out allowing Ukrainian citizens residing in the EU under the temporary protection regime to continue to use their Ukrainian driving licence without needing to exchange it for an EU driving licence or to sit a new driving test.
For reference, Ukrainian professional truck drivers who benefit from temporary protection would, under certain conditions, be able to extend the validity of their Ukrainian-issued Certificates of Professional Competence, following a short training course and a test. This will enable them to work in the EU during the period of temporary protection and to help export Ukrainian goods. In addition, as the current context does not allow Ukraine to carry out regular tests to renew professional driving licenses, the proposal requires Member States to recognise decisions from the Ukrainian government to extend of expired driver documents it issued.
The draft rules will now have to be formally adopted by the Council, which submitted its negotiating mandate to the COREPER for final approval. After agreement has been reached among both institutions, the Regulation will enter into force five days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.
Source: European Parliament, Council of the EU