The practice has been dubbed driving licence tourism, referring to the possibility for a driver from one EU country to evade the most severe penalties linked to their licence, such as suspension or withdrawal, when committing offences that trigger such sanctions in a state other than their own. The European Commission is determined to put an end to this loophole with legislation that will finally enforce full reciprocal recognition of penalties across the Union. A significant step in this direction came at the beginning of September 2025, when Parliament and member state representatives sealed an agreement.
The deal introduces the principle that a driving ban or suspension issued in one member state will be valid across the entire EU, removing disparities and free zones for offenders. However, the rule will not apply in all cases. It will cover only suspensions or withdrawals lasting more than three months, tied to serious violations such as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, major speeding offences, or conduct resulting in severe injury or loss of life.
The reform will rely on the Resper network (Rețeaua Europeană de Permise de Conducere), which connects national driving licence authorities. The country imposing the sanction will notify the measure through Resper to the state that issued the licence. The latter will have twenty days to inform the driver and apply an equivalent sanction. A crucial safeguard has been included: notification can only take place once the driver has exhausted all avenues of appeal in the country where the offence occurred. Furthermore, the issuing state may decline to enforce the sanction if it considers that the driver’s right to defence was not respected.
The legislative text provides a clear definition of the offences covered. It does not include short-term measures, which will remain confined to the state where they are imposed, but only violations with a major impact on road safety at European level. This approach is designed to strengthen consistency among legal systems, preventing the disparities that in the past allowed sanctioned drivers in one country to continue driving freely in another. The issue has particular relevance for the professional transport sector, where safety and responsibility behind the wheel are central concerns.
The agreement still requires formal approval by the Council and the European Parliament. Once published in the Official Journal, the Directive will enter into force after twenty days, with a four-year transposition period for member states. A five-year review clause has also been included, allowing an assessment of the effectiveness of the new rules and possible adjustments.
For road haulage operators, the Directive represents an important step towards greater uniformity and transparency. Companies employing international drivers will benefit from clearer rules and a control system that reduces the risk of unsafe behaviour being tolerated in some states but penalised in others. The measure is part of a broader EU strategy to improve road safety, cut casualties and ensure fair competition across the transport industry.
