New European driving licence in Belgium as from 2010

Implementing the third EC Directive on driving licences [1], the Belgian government has recently decided to introduce the new single European driving licence model in Belgium. As from 2010, pilot projects will start in some communes. The implementation of the new driving licence in all communes is foreseen by 2012.

The new European driving licence will have a credit card format. The document will be valid for a period of 10 years after which it will need to be renewed. According to the Belgian government, the introduction of the new licence is important to improve road safety in Europe and to prevent fraud (so-called “driving licence tourism”). Each new driving licence will be connected to a central database via the electronic identity card, which will contain information concerning the driver, such as his/her medical background, suspension or revocation of his/her driving licence. Thanks to this new database, it will be possible to check whether the person applying for a driving licence has already had a licence delivered by another EU Member State or whether his/her driving licence has been suspended or revoked.