Driving licence, new Community model (amend. Directive 91/439/EEC)

The Council's common position incorporated the EP amendments covering: - the broadening of the provision enabling Member States to introduce markings, symbols or other security features on side 1 of the model licence; - the option of indicating, with the holder's agreement, information not directly related to the management of the driving licence (e.g. blood group or organ donation). However, compared with the Commission's proposal, the common position: - confirmed that no electronic and/or computerized device may be added to driving licences without prior agreement at Community level. The Commission will have to set up a working party to examine the feasibility, contents, conditions of access and confidentiality aspects of introducing electronic devices such as microchips. In the light of the working party's conclusions, the Commission will, if necessary, make a formal proposal; - removed the provision limiting the validity of the licence to ten years maximum, thereby allowing national administrations to determine the period of validity of the licences they issue; - added a space for host Member States to include additional information necessary for managing driving licences whose holders have changed their state of residence; - added a space for the issuing Member State to include information relating to licence management, road safety or other matters, subject to the written consent of the holder; - for technical reasons, moved the holders' photograph and the flag containing the symbol of the Member State from the right to the left of the card; - introduced an optional point allowing inclusion of a number for use in licence management and/or security. �