By Jonathan Packroff | Euractiv Est. 4min 27-02-2024 (updated: 05-03-2024 ) Content-Type: Analysis Analysis Based on factual reporting, although it Incorporates the expertise of the author/producer and may offer interpretations and conclusions. Subscribe to Euractiv's Transport Brief, where you’ll find the latest roundup of news covering mobility from across Europe. Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Receive the Transport Brief in your inbox by subscribing here. Welcome to the Transport Brief! In case you have a driving licence in your wallet, you might want to dedicate some attention to Strasbourg this week, where the European Parliament is having its plenary. The EU wants to update rules for national driving licences, primarily to allow for digital versions of it. However, the update has proved to be controversial because it has opened up a Pandora’s box. Will teenagers be allowed to drive trucks? Will seniors have to renew their driving licence every few years, and get a medical check to do so? Will there be new categories for tractors? You can follow the debate in parliament today from around 10:40 here (and the vote tomorrow at lunchtime). But please keep in mind that this is the EU – so whatever the parliament decides, final rules will have to be negotiated with member states, which already decided that they want to continue having their own say on things. What you need to know this week: EU lawmakers face controversial vote over medical checks for drivers European lawmakers are set to debate an amended version of the driving licence directive on Tuesday (27 February), with Parliament’s decision to change rules surrounding driving licences still mired in a debate over whether to impose mandatory medical checks on licence holders. French Communists and Greens slam EU plans to introduce ‘tractor permits’ French Communist and Green lawmakers have called on EU lawmakers to oppose in next week’s vote the introduction of new permits for driving tractors as part of the revised EU driving licence directive. Berlin launches ‘milestone’ strategies to capture and remove CO2 permanently Germany will change its CO2 storage law to facilitate gas transport and is eyeing carbon capture in industry and the power sector while taking steps to become an emission-negative country past 2050. Croatia to build motorway to Dubrovnik bypassing Bosnia, using existing EU-funded bridge Croatia is starting construction of the final section of the motorway linking the capital Zagreb and Dubrovnik on the southern tip of the Adriatic. It appears the motorway route will bypass the territory of neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina and use the EU-funded Pelješac Bridge, which will connect the far south of Croatia to the rest of the country and the EU from 2022. Šefčovič’s plan to bring EU industry and green policies together The hot topic of the month in Brussels is industrial competitiveness and how it can be connected more closely to the European Green Deal. European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, appointed to lead the Green Deal portfolio last year, has a plan. Germany’s Habeck blames Putin, world trade for industrial slump Germany’s current economic weakness is mostly to blame on a slowdown of global trade and the aftermath of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said while presenting economic forecasts on Wednesday (21 February). EU deal on improved air quality fails to align with WHO standards The provisional agreement on new rules for air quality across the EU is hailed as a step forward, despite not aligning with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. [Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic] Read more with Euractiv EU lawmakers face controversial vote over medical checks for driversEuropean lawmakers are set to debate an amended version of the driving licence directive on Tuesday (27 February), with Parliament’s decision to change rules surrounding driving licences still mired in a debate over whether to impose mandatory medical checks on licence holders.
