The framework established by Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council should be updated to be fit for the new era, sustainable, inclusive, smart and resilient. It should take into account the need to reduce emissions and energy consumption from transport, including through a greater uptake of alternatively-fuelled vehicles, digitalisation, demographic trends and technological developments, in order to reinforce the competitiveness of the Union economy. In particular, as regards some alternatively-fuelled vehicles, their greater mass as compared to conventional vehicles should be reflected in the scope of driving licence categories. It is important to simplify and digitise administrative procedures, in order to remove the remaining barriers, such as the administrative burden, to the free movement of persons who are drivers taking up residence in a Member State other than that issuing the driving licence. A harmonised Union standard driving licence framework should encompass both physical driving licences and digital driving licences (mobile driving licences) in all categories, and provide for their mutual recognition, where they were duly issued in accordance with this Directive.
Text as published in the Official Journal, reproduced verbatim (including any typographical quirks of the source). For the authentic version, see EUR-Lex.
