On Tuesday, June 21, the European Commission announced this initiative. The document will next be considered by the European Parliament and the EU Council.
EU Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean emphasized that persons who left Ukraine and received asylum in EU countries should be able to move around the bloc without unnecessary obstacles. This implies using existing driving licenses without exchanging them for local ones or retaking exams.
The proposed changes will allow Ukrainians who have been granted temporary protection to use national licenses to drive cars. This relaxation applies not only to owners of private vehicles but also to those driving commercial transport. Vălean noted that long-haul truckers from Ukraine perform an important function by transporting goods across the border, including grain. She stressed the need to create conditions so they can work without long bureaucratic procedures related to licenses. This will also facilitate the functioning of the so-called solidarity corridors.
In Brussels, it was clarified that drivers of trucks and buses under temporary protection will be able to extend the validity of professional qualification certificates obtained in Ukraine. For this, it is enough to undergo short training and pass a test. This will allow them to remain employed in the EU while the temporary protection status is in effect and will facilitate the export of Ukrainian products.
