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Final warning for EU nations over training
Page 11
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THE EUROPEAN Commission (EC) has sent out final legal warnings to 10 European Union (EU) member governments, warning them to comply with the required minimum standards for the training of professional drivers working in their countries.
EU Directive 2003/59 imposes a requirement for 280 hours of compulsory basic training as well as periodic training of 35 hours every five years to update drivers' knowledge and skills (Driver CPC).
However, according to the EC, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have all failed to ensure that professional drivers in their countries undertake such training.
It underlines the reasoning behind the compulsory training legislation: "To be a professional driver, it is no longer enough simply to have a driving licence."
The 10 governments have two months to say how they intend to follow the rules and expand their driver training programmes or face the risk of legal action at the European Court ofiustice.