Skip to content
EU Parl Watch

Where the law stands, Dossier 2023/0053(COD)

Driving licences

Driving licences, amending Directive (EU) 2022/2561 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Regulation (EU) 2018/1724 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Commission Regulation (EU) No 383/2012

· Second reading

A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.

Where it stands

Published as law

Completed: published in the Official Journal on 5 November 2025 and now EU law.

  1. Referred to committee(done) 9 October 2025
  2. Committee work(done) Report adopted 13 October 2025
  3. Tabled for plenary(done) 14 October 2025
  4. Plenary vote(done) Voted 21 October 2025
  5. Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 14 May 2025
  6. Published as law(done) 5 November 2025

Decided in plenary

21 October 2025 · decision 9

Transport & tourism, New EU law

Driving licences

Approved without a vote Decided by show of hands: no count recorded.

AI summary:The directive updates EU rules on driving licences, introducing mutually recognised EU mobile driving licences and clarifying minimum age requirements.

Who works on it

Lead committee
Transport and Tourism
Mep #96868 (Greens), Jutta Paulus (Greens)
Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska (EPP), Matteo Ricci (S&D), Mep #239257 (S&D), Paolo Borchia (Patriots), Mep #96885 (Renew), Carlo Fidanza (ECR), Mep #124996 (ECR), Valérie Devaux (Renew), Elena Kountoura (The Left), Siegbert Frank Droese (ESN), Mep #35016 (ID)
Committees giving an opinion
  • Internal Market and Consumer Protection
  • Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

The text, version by version

Newest first.

  1. Adopted by Parliament· 21 Oct 2025

    Adopted text TA10-0234/2025

    AI summary:Parliament approves the Council position on a directive updating EU driving licence rules, replacing Directive 2006/126/EC and Regulation (EU) No 383/2012.

    What changed since Adopted text TA9-0095/2024 →

  2. Adopted by Parliament· 28 Feb 2024

    Adopted text TA9-0095/2024

    AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive on driving licences sets common rules on licence models, categories, issuance, validity, renewal, and mutual recognition, and introduces mobile driving licences.

    What changed since Report A10-0191/2025 →

  3. Tabled for plenary· 14 Oct 2025

    Report A10-0191/2025

    AI summary:Parliament approves the Council position at first reading on a directive on driving licences, which updates EU rules on driving licences.

    What changed since Report A9-0445/2023 →

  4. Tabled for plenary· 11 Jan 2024

    Report A9-0445/2023

    AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive on driving licences updates EU rules on licence categories, issuance, validity, and mutual recognition, aiming to improve road safety and support the green and digital transitions.

    What changed since Draft report (TRAN) →

  5. Committee draft· 6 Oct 2025

    Draft report (TRAN)

    AI summary:The draft report recommends approving the Council position at first reading on a directive on driving licences, which revises EU rules to enhance road safety and free movement.

    What changed since Draft report (TRAN) →

  6. Committee draft· 19 Jul 2023

    Draft report (TRAN)

    AI summary:This draft report sets out Parliament's amendments to the proposed directive on driving licences, covering new licence categories, training, testing, and medical checks.

Timeline

Newest first.

Outcome 2 steps
  1. 5 November 2025

    Published in the Official Journal

    The act is now EU law.

  2. 22 October 2025

    Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council

    The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.

Plenary stage 2 steps
  1. 21 October 2025

    Plenary vote

    Sitting of 21 Oct 2025 Adopted text TA10-0234/2025Report A10-0191/2025

  2. 14 October 2025

    Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

    Report A10-0191/2025

Committee stage 3 steps
  1. 13 October 2025

    Committee vote: report adopted

    TRAN (Transport and Tourism) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  2. 9 October 2025

    Referred to the TRAN (Transport and Tourism) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection), LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) give an opinion.

  3. 6 October 2025

    Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in TRAN (Transport and Tourism). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

    Draft report (TRAN)

Negotiations with the Council 5 steps
  1. 14 May 2025

    Committee approved the deal reached with the Council

    The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.

    TRAN-AG-773288

  2. 24 March 2025

    Trilogue meeting

    Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.

  3. 18 February 2025

    Trilogue meeting

    Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.

  4. 11 December 2024

    Trilogue meeting

    Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.

  5. 22 October 2024

    Trilogue meeting

    Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.

Plenary stage 3 steps
  1. 28 February 2024

    Plenary vote

    Sitting of 28 Feb 2024 Adopted text TA9-0095/2024Report A9-0445/2023

  2. 27 February 2024

    Debated in plenary

    MEPs debated the text in the chamber ahead of the vote.

    Sitting of 27 Feb 2024 Council / Commission text C9-0035/2023Report A9-0445/2023

  3. 11 January 2024

    Report tabled for plenary

    This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.

    Report A9-0445/2023

Committee stage 4 steps
  1. 7 December 2023

    Committee vote: report adopted

    TRAN (Transport and Tourism) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.

  2. 26 September 2023

    Amendments tabled in committee (2 batches)

    Members of TRAN (Transport and Tourism) proposed changes to the draft.

    Amendments in committee (TRAN)Amendments in committee (TRAN)

  3. 19 July 2023

    Draft report published

    The rapporteur’s first text in TRAN (Transport and Tourism). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.

    Draft report (TRAN)

  4. 17 April 2023

    Referred to the TRAN (Transport and Tourism) committee

    The lead committee prepares the report; IMCO (Internal Market and Consumer Protection), LIBE (Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs) give an opinion.

Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2023/0053(COD)