
Article 1 
Directive 2003/59/EC is amended as follows:

((1)) Article 1 is replaced by the following:
'
Article 1 
This Directive shall apply to the activity of driving carried out by:

((a)) nationals of a Member State, and
((b)) nationals of third countries who are employed or used by an undertaking established in a Member State,
hereinafter referred to as “drivers”, engaged in road transport within the Union, on roads open to the public, using:

— vehicles for which a driving licence of category C1, C1 + E, C or C + E, as defined in Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, or a driving licence recognised as equivalent, is required,
— vehicles for which a driving licence of category D1, D1 + E, D or D + E, as defined in Directive 2006/126/EC, or a driving licence recognised as equivalent, is required.
For the purposes of this Directive, the references to categories of driving licences containing a plus sign (“+”) shall be read in accordance with the correspondence table set out in Annex III.'.
((2)) Article 2 is replaced by the following:
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Article 2 

1. This Directive shall not apply to the drivers of vehicles:
(a) with a maximum authorised speed not exceeding 45 km/h;
(b) used by, or under the control of, the armed forces, civil defence, the fire service, forces responsible for maintaining public order, and emergency ambulance services, when the carriage is undertaken as a consequence of the tasks assigned to those services;
(c) undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance purposes, or the drivers of new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service;
(d) for which a driving licence of category D or D1 is required and which are driven without passengers by maintenance personnel to or from a maintenance centre situated in the vicinity of the nearest maintenance base which is used by the transport operator, provided that driving the vehicle does not constitute the driver's principal activity;
(e) used in states of emergency or assigned to rescue missions, including vehicles used in the non-commercial transport of humanitarian aid;
(f) used for driving instruction for, and examination of, any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), in accordance with Article 6 and Article 8(1), provided that they are not being used for the commercial carriage of goods and passengers;
(g) used for non-commercial carriage of passengers or goods;
(h) carrying material, equipment or machinery to be used by the drivers in the course of their work, provided that driving the vehicles is not the drivers' principal activity.With regard to point (f) of this paragraph, this Directive shall not apply to any person wishing to obtain a driving licence or a CPC, in accordance with Article 6 and Article 8(1), when that person is undergoing additional driving training during work-based learning, where that person is accompanied by another person certified by a CPC, or a driving instructor, for the category of vehicle used for the purpose set out in that point.
2. This Directive shall not apply where all the following conditions are met:
(a) drivers of vehicles operate in rural areas to supply the driver's own business,
(b) drivers do not offer transport services, and
(c) Member States consider that the transport is occasional and does not have an impact on road safety.
3. This Directive shall not apply to drivers of vehicles used, or hired without a driver, by agricultural, horticultural, forestry, farming or fishery undertakings for carrying goods as part of their own entrepreneurial activity, except if driving is part of the driver's principal activity or the driving exceeds a distance set in national law from the base of the undertaking which owns, hires or leases the vehicle.'.
((3)) Article 7 is replaced by the following:
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Article 7 
Periodic training shall consist of training to enable holders of a CPC to update the knowledge which is essential for their work, with specific emphasis on road safety, health and safety at work, and the reduction of the environmental impact of driving.
That training shall be organised by an approved training centre, in accordance with section 5 of Annex I. Training shall consist of classroom teaching, practical training and, if available, training by means of information and communication technology (ICT) tools or on top-of-the-range simulators. If a driver moves to another undertaking, the periodic training already undergone must be taken into account.
Periodic training shall be designed to expand on, and to revise, some of the subjects referred in section 1 of Annex I. It shall cover a variety of subjects and shall always include at least one road safety related subject. The training subjects shall take into account developments in the relevant legislation and technology, and shall, as far as possible, take into account the specific training needs of the driver.'.
((4)) in Article 9, the first paragraph is replaced by the following:
'Drivers referred to in point (a) of Article 1 of this Directive shall obtain the initial qualification referred to in Article 5 of this Directive in the Member State in which they have their normal residence, as defined in Article 12 of Directive 2006/126/EC.'.
((5)) Article 10 is replaced by the following:
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Article 10 

1. On the basis of the CPC certifying an initial qualification and the CPC certifying periodic training, Member States' competent authorities shall, taking into account the provisions of Article 5(2) and (3) of this Directive and Article 8 of this Directive, mark the harmonised Union code, “95”, provided for in Annex I to Directive 2006/126/EC, alongside the corresponding categories of licence:
— on the driving licence, or
— on the driver qualification card drawn up in accordance with the model shown in Annex II to this Directive.If the competent authorities of the Member State where the CPC was obtained cannot mark the Union code on the driving licence, they shall issue the driver with a driver qualification card.The driver qualification card issued by a Member State shall be mutually recognised. When the card is issued, the competent authorities shall check the validity of the driving licence for the category of vehicle concerned.
2. A driver referred to in point (b) of Article 1 who drives vehicles used for the carriage of goods by road shall also be allowed to prove that he or she has the qualification and training provided for in this Directive by means of the driver attestation provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, provided that it bears the Union code, “95”. For the purposes of this Directive, the issuing Member State shall indicate the Union code, “95” in the remarks section of the attestation if the driver concerned has fulfilled the qualification requirements and training requirements provided for in this Directive.
3. Driver attestations that do not bear the Union code, “95”, and that were issued before 23 May 2020 in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1072/2009, and in particular with paragraph 7 thereof, with a view to certifying compliance with training requirements under this Directive shall be accepted as a proof of qualification until their date of expiry.'.
((6)) the following Article is inserted:
'
Article 10a 

1. For enforcement purposes, Member States shall exchange information on CPCs issued or withdrawn. For this purpose Member States shall, in cooperation with the Commission, develop an electronic network or work on an extension of an existing network, taking into account the assessment by the Commission of the most cost-effective option.
2. The network may contain information contained in the CPCs as well as information relating to administrative procedures related to CPCs.
3. Member States shall ensure that the processing of personal data is carried out solely for the purposes of verifying compliance with this Directive, in particular the training requirements laid down in this Directive, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
4. Access to the network shall be secured. Member States may grant access only to the competent authorities responsible for the implementation of, and for the control of compliance with, this Directive.'.
((7)) Annexes I and II are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Directive.
Article 2 
Directive 2006/126/EC is amended as follows:

((1)) Article 4 is amended as follows:

((a)) paragraph 4 is amended as follows:

((i)) in point (e), the third indent is replaced by the following:
'
— the minimum age for categories C1 and C1E is fixed at 18 years;';
((ii)) in point (g), the second indent is replaced by the following:
'
— the minimum age for categories C and CE is fixed at 21 years;';
((iii)) in point (i), the second indent is replaced by the following:
'
— the minimum age for categories D1 and D1E is fixed at 21 years;';
((iv)) in point (k), the second indent is replaced by the following:
'
— the minimum age for categories D and DE is fixed at 24 years;';
((b)) the following paragraph is added:
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7. By way of derogation from the minimum ages laid down in points (g), (i) and (k) of paragraph 4 of this Article, the minimum age for issuing a driving licence in categories C and CE; D1 and D1E; and D and DE respectively shall be the minimum age prescribed for the driving of such vehicles for holders of a CPC laid down in Article 5(2), the first paragraph of Article 5(3)(a)(i), the first paragraph of Article 5(3)(a)(ii) or point (b) of Article 5(3) of Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as applicable.Where, in accordance with the second paragraph of Article 5(3)(a)(i) or the second paragraph of Article 5(3)(a)(ii) of Directive 2003/59/EC, a Member State authorises driving within its territory from a lower age, the validity of the driving licence shall be limited to the territory of the issuing Member State until such time as the licence holder has reached the relevant minimum age referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph and holds a CPC.'.
((2)) in Article 6(4), the following point is added:
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(c) alternatively fuelled vehicles referred to in Article 2 of Council Directive 96/53/EC with a maximum authorised mass above 3 500 kg but not exceeding 4 250 kg for the transport of goods operating without a trailer by holders of a category B driving licence which was issued at least two years before, provided that the mass in excess of 3 500 kg is due exclusively to the excess of mass of the propulsion system in relation to the propulsion system of a vehicle of the same dimensions, which is equipped with a conventional internal combustion engine with positive ignition or compression ignition, and provided that the cargo capacity is not increased in relation to the same vehicle.
'.
((3)) Article 15 is replaced by the following:
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Article 15 

1. Member States shall assist one another in the implementation of this Directive and shall exchange information on the licences they have issued, exchanged, replaced, renewed or revoked. They shall use the EU driving licence network set up for these purposes, once this network is operational.
2. The network may also be used for the exchange of information for control purposes provided for in Union legislation.
3. Member States shall ensure that the processing of personal data referred to in this Directive is carried out solely for the purpose of implementing this Directive and Directives 2003/59/EC and (EU) 2015/413 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Any processing of personal data carried out within the framework of this Directive shall be in accordance with Regulations (EU) 2016/679 and (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
4. Access to the network shall be secured. Member States may grant access only to the competent authorities responsible for the implementation of, and for the control of compliance with, this Directive and Directives 2003/59/EC and (EU) 2015/413.'.
Article 3 

1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 23 May 2020, except for the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with point 6 of Article 1 of this Directive, which shall be brought into force by 23 May 2021. They shall immediately inform the Commission thereof.When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States.
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 4 
This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 5 
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Strasbourg, 18 April 2018.
For the European Parliament
The President
A. TAJANI
For the Council
The President
L. PAVLOVA
ANNEX

The annexes to Directive 2003/59/EC are amended as follows:

((1)) Annex I is amended as follows:

((a)) Section 1 is amended as follows:

((i)) the second paragraph is replaced by the following:
'The minimum level of qualification shall be comparable at least to level 2 of the European Qualifications Framework as provided for in Annex II to Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008.';
((ii)) point 1.2 is replaced by the following:
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1.2. Objective: to know the technical characteristics and operation of the safety controls in order to control the vehicle, minimise wear and tear, and prevent disfunctioning:
limits to the use of brakes and retarder, combined use of brakes and retarder, making better use of speed and gear ratio, making use of vehicle inertia, using ways of slowing down and braking on downhill stretches, action in the event of failure, use of electronic and mechanical devices such as Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS), Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), traction control systems (TCS) and in vehicle monitoring systems (IVMS) and other, approved for use, driver assistance or automation devices.
';
((iii)) point 1.3 is replaced by the following:
'
1.3. Objective: ability to optimise fuel consumption:
optimisation of fuel consumption by applying know-how as regards points 1.1 and 1.2, importance of anticipating traffic flow, appropriate distance to other vehicles and use of the vehicle's momentum, steady speed, smooth driving style and appropriate tyre pressure, and familiarity with intelligent transport systems that improve driving efficiency and assist in route planning.
';
((iv)) the following point is inserted before the heading ‘Licences C, C + E, C1, C1 + E’:
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1.3a. Objective: ability to anticipate, assess and adapt to risks in traffic:

 to be aware of and adapt to different road, traffic and weather conditions, anticipate forthcoming events; to understand how to prepare and plan a journey during abnormal weather conditions; to be familiar with the use of related safety equipment and to understand when a journey has to be postponed or cancelled due to extreme weather conditions; to adapt to the risks of traffic, including dangerous behaviour in traffic or distracted driving (through the use of electronic devices, eating, drinking, etc.); to recognise and adapt to dangerous situations and to be able to cope with stress deriving therefrom, in particular related to size and weight of the vehicles and vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, cyclists and powered two wheelers;
 to identify possible hazardous situations and properly interpret how these potentially hazardous situations may turn into situations where crashes can no longer be averted and selecting and implementing actions that increase the safety margins to such an extent that a crash can still be averted in case the potential hazards should occur.
';
((v)) point 1.4 is replaced by the following:
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1.4. Objective: ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety rules and proper vehicle use:

 forces affecting vehicles in motion, use of gearbox ratios according to vehicle load and road profile, use of automatic transmission systems, calculation of payload of vehicle or assembly, calculation of total volume, load distribution, consequences of overloading the axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity, types of packaging and pallets;
 main categories of goods needing securing, clamping and securing techniques, use of securing straps, checking of securing devices, use of handling equipment, placing and removal of tarpaulins.
';
((vi)) point 1.5 is replaced by the following:
'
1.5. Objective: ability to ensure passenger comfort and safety:
adjusting longitudinal and sideways movements, road sharing, position on the road, smooth breaking, overhang operation, using specific infrastructures (public areas, dedicated lanes), managing conflicts between safe driving and other roles as a driver, interacting with passengers, specificities of certain groups of passengers (disabled persons, children).
';
((vii)) point 1.6 is replaced by the following:
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1.6. Objective: ability to load the vehicle with due regard for safety rules and proper vehicle use:
forces affecting vehicles in motion, use of gearbox-ratios according to vehicle load and road profile, use of automatic transmission systems, calculation of payload of vehicle or assembly, load distribution, consequences of overloading the axle, vehicle stability and centre of gravity.
';
((viii)) point 2.1 is replaced by the following:
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2.1. Objective: to know the social environment of road transport and the rules governing it:
maximum working periods specific to the transport industry; principles, application and consequences of Regulations (EC) No 561/2006 and (EU) No 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council; penalties for failure to use, improper use of and tampering with the tachograph; knowledge of the social environment of road transport: rights and duties of drivers as regards initial qualification and periodic training.
';
((ix)) point 2.2 is replaced by the following:
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2.2. Objective: to know the regulations governing the carriage of goods:
transport operating licences, documents to be carried in the vehicle, bans on using certain roads, road-use fees, obligations under standard contracts for the carriage of goods, drafting of documents which form the transport contract, international transport permits, obligations under the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road, drafting of the international consignment note, crossing borders, freight forwarders, special documents accompanying goods.
';
((x)) point 3.7 is replaced by the following:
'
3.7. Objective: to know the economic environment of road haulage and the organisation of the market:
road transport in relation to other modes of transport (competition, shippers), different road transport activities (transport for hire or reward, own account, auxiliary transport activities), organisation of the main types of transport company and auxiliary transport activities, different transport specialisations (road tanker, controlled temperature, dangerous goods, animal transport, etc.), changes in the industry (diversification of services provided, rail-road, subcontracting, etc.).
';
((xi)) point 3.8 is replaced by the following:
'
3.8. Objective: to know the economic environment of the carriage of passengers by road and the organisation of the market:
carriage of passengers by road in relation to other modes of passenger transport (rail, private car), different activities involving the carriage of passengers by road, disability awareness, crossing borders (international transport), organisation of the main types of companies for the carriage of passengers by road.
';
((b)) Section 2 is amended as follows:

((i)) point 2.1 is replaced by the following:
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2.1. 
Initial qualification must include the teaching of all subjects in the list under section 1. The duration of this initial qualification must be 280 hours.

Each trainee driver must drive for at least 20 hours individually in a vehicle of the category concerned which meets at least the requirements for test vehicles as set out in Directive 2006/126/EC.

When driving individually, the trainee driver must be accompanied by an instructor, employed by an approved training centre. Each trainee driver may drive for a maximum of eight hours of the 20 hours of individual driving on special terrain or on a top-of-the-range simulator so as to assess training in rational driving based on safety regulations, in particular with regard to vehicle handling in different road conditions and the way they change with different atmospheric conditions, the time of day or night, and the ability to optimise fuel consumption.

Member States may allow part of the training to be delivered by the approved training centre by means of ICT tools, such as e-learning, while ensuring that the high quality and the effectiveness of the training are maintained, and by selecting the subjects where ICT tools can most effectively be deployed. In particular Member States shall require reliable user identification and appropriate means of control. Member States may count specific training required under other Union legislation as part of the training. This includes, but is not restricted to, training required under Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council for the transport of dangerous goods, training on disability awareness under Regulation (EU) No 181/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council and training on animal transport under Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005.

For the drivers referred to in Article 5(5) the length of the initial qualification must be 70 hours, including five hours of individual driving.

At the end of that training, Member States' competent authorities or the entity designated by them shall give the driver a written or oral test. The test must include at least one question on each of the objectives in the list of subjects under section 1.
';
((ii)) in point 2.2(b), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:
'The vehicle used for the practical test must meet at least the requirements for test vehicles set out in Directive 2006/126/EC.';
((c)) Sections 3 and 4 are replaced by the following:
'
Section 3: Accelerated initial qualification provided for in Article 3(2) Accelerated initial qualification must include the teaching of all subjects in the list in section 1. Its duration must be 140 hours.
Each trainee driver must drive for at least 10 hours individually in a vehicle of the category concerned which meets at least the requirements for test vehicles set out in Directive 2006/126/EC.
When driving individually, the trainee driver must be accompanied by an instructor, employed by an approved training centre. Each trainee driver may drive for a maximum of four hours of the 10 hours of individual driving on special terrain or on a top-of-the-range simulator so as to assess training in rational driving based on safety regulations, in particular with regard to vehicle handling in different road conditions and the way those road conditions change with different atmospheric conditions, the time of day or night, and the ability to optimise fuel consumption.
The provisions of the fourth paragraph of point 2.1 shall also apply to the accelerated initial qualification.
For the drivers referred to in Article 5(5), the length of the accelerated initial qualification must be 35 hours, including two-and-a-half hours of individual driving.
At the end of that training, Member States' competent authorities or the entity designated by them shall give the driver a written or oral test. The test must include at least one question on each of the objectives in the list of subjects under section 1.

Section 4: Compulsory periodic training provided for in point (b) of Article 3(1) Compulsory periodic training courses must be organised by an approved training centre. Their duration must be of 35 hours every five years, given in periods of at least seven hours, which may be split over two consecutive days. Whenever e-learning is used, the approved training centre shall ensure that the proper quality of the training is maintained, including by selecting the subjects where ICT tools can most effectively be deployed. In particular, Member States shall require reliable user identification and appropriate means of control. The maximum duration of the e-learning training shall not exceed 12 hours. At least one of the training course periods shall cover a road safety related subject. The content of the training shall take into account training needs specific to the transport operations carried out by the driver and relevant legal and technological developments and should, as far as possible, take into account specific training needs of the driver. A range of different subjects should be covered over the 35 hours, including repeat training where it is shown that the driver needs specific remedial training.
Member States may consider counting the completed specific training as required under other Union legislation for up to one of the stipulated seven-hour periods. That includes, but is not restricted to, training required under Directive 2008/68/EC for the transport of dangerous goods, training on animal transport under Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, and, for the carriage of passengers, training on disability awareness under Regulation (EU) No 181/2011. However, Member States may decide that completed specific training as required under Directive 2008/68/EC for the transport of dangerous goods counts as two of the seven-hour periods, provided that this is the only other training that is taken into account in the periodic training.
'.
((2)) Annex II is amended as follows:

((a)) The title is replaced by the following:
'';
((b)) Section 2 is amended as follows:

((i)) concerning side 1 of the driver qualification card:

— in point (d), point (9) is replaced by the following:
'
9. the categories of vehicles for which the driver satisfies the initial qualification and periodic training requirements;
';
— in point (e), the first sentence is replaced by the following:
'the title “European Union model” in the language or languages of the Member State issuing the card and the heading “driver qualification card” in the other official languages of the Union, printed in blue so as to form the background to the card:';
((ii)) concerning side 2 of the driver qualification card, in point (a), points (9) and (10) are replaced by the following:
'
9.. the categories of vehicles for which the driver satisfies the initial qualification and periodic training requirements;
10.. the harmonised Union code, “95”, provided for in Annex I to Directive 2006/126/EC;';
((c)) Section 4 is amended as follows:

((i)) the heading is replaced by the following:
'';
((ii)) on side 2 of the model, under number 10, ‘Community code’ is replaced by ‘Union code’;
((d)) The following section is added:
'
5. 
Driver qualification cards issued before 23 May 2020 shall be valid until their date of expiry.
'.
((3)) The following Annex is added:
'
ANNEX III 
Reference in this Directive Reference in Directive 2006/126/EC
C + E CE
C1 + E C1E
D + E DE
D1 + E D1E'
