A European driving licence was approved by EU Governments replacing more than 110 different types currently in use in the 25 member states.
Subject to final agreement by Euro MPs later in 2006, the new plastic credit card sized document will come into force in 2012, with old style national Licences being phased out by 2032.
The European Commission, which first proposed a single licence in 2003, welcomed the agreement as part of a fight against fraud, and particularly against "driving licence tourism" where drivers get
new Licences from other EU countries if their own has been taken away in their own country.
The new licence will have a photograph, and the potential to carry microchip information
But the UK Government has been backing the new licence to tighten controls against disqualified drivers continuing to use the roads on a licence obtained elsewhere in the EU.
It will be up to individual countries to decide whether to use a microchip on the new licence - but the Commission emphasized that if the option is chosen governments must respect EU data protection
rules.
The new Licences will be valid for 10 years before they must be renewed - for up to 15 years if national authorities decide.
March 2006
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