COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2011/94/EU
of 28 November 2011
amending Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on driving licences
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on driving licences (1), and in particular Article 8 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
Annex I to Directive 2006/126/EC sets out the model on the basis of which Member States are required to introduce national driving licences. With the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon on 1 December 2009, the reference to the Community on the driving licence should be replaced with a reference to the European Union. The model should also be updated to reflect the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the European Union.
(2)
In accordance with Annex I of Directive 2006/126/EC the European Union model driving licence should indicate the category of vehicle the holder is entitled to drive
(3)
It is necessary to update the European Union model driving licence in the light of the new categories of vehicles introduced by Directive 2006/126/EC. In particular driving licences for category AM (mopeds) and category A2 (motorcycles) have been introduced and will be applicable as from 19 January 2013. Therefore, the European Union model driving licence should be adjusted.
(4)
Directive 2006/126/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.
(5)
Member States are encouraged to draw up, for themselves and in the interests of the Union, their own table illustrating, as far as possible, the correlation between this Directive and the transposition measures, and to make them public.
(6)
The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on driving licences,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Annex I to Directive 2006/126/EC is amended as set out in the Annex.
Article 2
Transposition
1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by 30 June 2012 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof.
They shall apply those provisions from 19 January 2013.
When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.
2. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.
Article 3
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 4
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 28 November 2011.