Article 17 — Accompanied driving scheme

1. Notwithstanding Article 7(1), point (b), Member States shall issue driving licences, in accordance with Article 10(1), for category B marked with Union code 98.02 set out in Annex I, Part E, to applicants who have reached the age of 17 years. 2. By way of derogation from Article 7(1), points (b) and (d), respectively, Member States may, for driving on their respective territories, issue driving licences for category C1, C1E or C, in accordance with Article 10(1), provided the applicant holds a CPC awarded in accordance with Article 6(1) of Directive (EU) 2022/2561 for category C or in accordance with Article 6(2) of Directive (EU) 2022/2561 for categories C1 and C1E , marked with Union code 98.02 set out in Annex I, Part E, to applicants who have reached the age of 17 years. Driving licences issued in accordance with the first subparagraph shall be mutually recognised by the Member States that issue such driving licences. 3. Holders of a driving licence marked with Union code 98.02 set out in Annex I, Part E, who have not reached the age of 18 years shall drive only when accompanied by a person, in the front passenger seat, who is able to provide guidance to them while driving. The accompanying person shall comply with the rules on driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The accompanying person shall: (a) have a minimum age of 24 years; (b) hold a driving licence of the relevant category issued in the Union more than five years previously; (c) not have been subject to a driving disqualification in the Member State of issuance of the driving licence referred to in point (b) within the last five years. A Member State other than the Member State of issuance referred to in point (c) may provide for enforcing a driving disqualification within its territory, following an offence committed on its territory, which could imply a lack of aptitude to act as an accompanying person under this Article. 4. Member States may require the identification of the accompanying persons referred to in paragraph 3 in order to ensure compliance with this Article. Member States may limit the number of possible accompanying persons in respect of a given accompanied driver. Member States may on their territory apply additional conditions to be fulfilled by the person accompanying the holder of a driving licence issued by them. Such conditions shall be proportionate and suitable as regards achieving the aims of the accompanied driving scheme. Member States shall inform the Commission of those additional conditions. The Commission shall make the information on those additional conditions available to the public. For a person accompanying a holder of a driving licence of categories C, C1E or C1, the requirements referred to in the first subparagraph may include in particular, the requirement that the accompanying person: (a) have the relevant qualification and training provided in accordance with Directive (EU) 2022/2561; or (b) have undergone a dedicated training course of at least 7 hours, which may be increased to 14 hours, to learn the necessary professional and pedagogical skills, as part of his or her periodic CPC training. 5. The accompanied driving scheme shall not restrict any existing possibility that Member States have to lower the minimum age for applicants for category B driving licences as set out in Article 7(2) or to apply related conditions at national level. 6. Member States may apply additional conditions to the issuance of a driving licence marked with Union code 98.02 set out in Annex I, Part E, to applicants who have not reached the age of 18 years. They shall inform the Commission thereof. The Commission shall make this information available to the public.