Posted on 03/27/2006 8:56:57 PM PST by Murtyo
EU Transport Ministers have given their approval for a standardised European driving licence to replace more than 110 different types that are currently in use across the EU. The agreement is subject to final approval by MEPs later this year.
The plastic, credit card-sized document will come into force in 2012. Old-style national licences will be phased out by 2032. Advertisement Click here to find out more!
The European Commission welcomed the agreement as part of a fight against fraud. It said the move was a particularly important step in combating so-called driving licence tourism where drivers get new licences from other EU states if their own has been taken away. The (Irish) Government has already agreed in principle to introduce microchips into licences to assist with the enforcement of the penalty point system.
I know this is a stupid question, but didn't the EU constitution fail to pass?!
ah, but they'll still get all their little programs thru'. Big Brother isn't going to be stopped by people voting.
Is there anything the EU won't do for the terrorists?
do all EU countries drive on the same side of the road ?
No, the UK and Ireland drive on the left.
donno if this will help terrorists, but the opportunities for official abuse are huge and the whole idea that a 25 nation (and growing) organization/superstate will have all these details on 100's of million of people is unsettling at the least.
Yes, but this will also screw France (and to a lesser extent Germany) far more than they are already. And France is pretty much the prime mover behind the EU.
Funny that you mention "Big Brother". Here on the North American continent, if you have your driver's licence suspended in Nunavut, you're out of luck unless you've got friends in Oaxaca, and even then it's a crapshoot.
Between you and me, we're ALL under the thumb...
I think it seems there are two possibilities here:
1) Either European Union member countries have agreed to standardize all member countries' driver's licences information, but individual countries still issue licences; or
2) The Euroepan Union takes over the business of issuing driving licences, which means we have new European driver licences.
I think 1) are like international agreements, it shouldn't be too bad, but 2) is absolutely sinister.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
The French referendum rejected it, so it's kinda on hold!
Anyway, the EU can introduce any rules it likes, it doesn't mean member countries have to agree. A good example is border security. When I drive from England to Italy I have to show my passport as I leave England. No-one in France asks me for it. I can then drive across any border in the EU without stopping or needing a passport. When I get back to the ferry in France, once again no-one asks for my ID. When I get off the ferry in England I must show my passport or make the men with the HK MP5's unhappy!
The EU says we all have to have open inter-EU borders - we say bollox! :D
I've already got one - my British driving licence allows me to drive throughout the european union with just one licence!
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