A draft harmonized European permit, currently under discussion in Brussels, is causing an outcry. However, it does not appear in the European Commission’s initial bill.
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Will the European Union (EU) impose a “tractor permit” on farmers? Will there be a mandatory medical examination every 15 years to renew your license? Letters and petitions are circulating on the future harmonized European permit, currently under discussion in Brussels. The head of the Communist Party list for the European elections, Léon Deffontaines, denounces a provocation from Brussels, reports The Parisian. “These new permits will have a significant cost for farmers, even though the overwhelming majority of them have been driving these machines for many years. Such regulations risk completely destabilizing the agricultural world”estimates the head of the list, according to the daily.
However, this does not appear in the bill proposed by the European Commission which aims to harmonize driving licenses at EU level. This idea of imposing a T license (for tractor) everywhere in the EU actually appears in an amendment voted on in committee in the European Parliament. An amendment tabled by right-wing MEPs: elected officials from the EPP group which usually defends the agricultural world.
Confusion over mandatory medical visits
These elected officials believe that this would facilitate the movement of tractors between EU member countries during seasonal harvests. This amendment was voted on in committee. But it is possible, even probable, that it will skip the plenary vote scheduled for next week. And even if it were voted on, there is then a long work of negotiation with the Member States planned during the next mandate, therefore probably in 2025. In France, this T permit does not exist. As a farmer, you can drive most tractors without a license if you are over 16 years old.
This license harmonization bill also gives rise to criticism of medical examinations which would become compulsory every 15 years to keep your license. But here again, the initial bill does not provide for it! It is Parliament which is proposing to make these visits compulsory. On the side of the Commission, but also of the Member States, who have already agreed on the position that they will defend in front of Parliament, we want to leave the choice to governments to impose it or not.
Road safety associations mobilized
These compulsory visits already exist in Italy or Spain. If a government does not want them, as is the case in France, they could be replaced by a “self-assessment” of the driver every 15 years. During future interinstitutional negotiations, MEPs will argue that it is necessary, to avoid many deaths on the roads, to impose medical check-ups. But nothing says that they will win their case because we feel that the capitals do not want to give up their prerogatives.
Road safety and motorist defense associations are also very involved. Some voices are also raised against the plan to let 17-year-olds take the wheel while driving trucks. We can see the beginnings of this, the discussions will be difficult.