Siegbert Droese (ESN/AfD), Member of the European Parliament, strongly criticises the proposed EU directive on driving licence reform as well as the directive on licence withdrawal, calling them bureaucratic and patronising. As shadow rapporteur for both proposals, he took part in the negotiations and warns of the consequences for citizens and Member States – despite the ESN Group’s efforts in both trilogues to tone down the drafts:
“Under the guise of road safety, the EU aimed to push through far-reaching interference in national traffic policy. However, many of the directive’s absurd proposals – such as mandatory medical checks for seniors only, age-based speed limits, or bans on SUVs and night driving for novice drivers – were successfully blocked in negotiations thanks to the centre-right majority.
In the talks on the licence withdrawal directive, we also managed to remove the originally planned EU-wide points system. This proves that resistance to excessive EU regulation can be successful.
Still, the proposed rules remain deeply problematic, representing yet another disproportionate infringement on national sovereignty – at the expense of citizens and with no real benefit to road safety.
What we need is pragmatic transport policy that ensures safety with common sense – not more red tape and top-down control from Brussels.”
