Bilateral agreements, if any, an absence of European harmonization on the subject, the general obligation of conversion. The Europe “behind the wheel” is still to be done, and therefore the question of Ukrainian refugees arriving in the EU with a driving license has raised questions to which the Union has decided to respond with special rules. The EU institutions have decided to grant Ukrainian citizens a special, facilitated regime that allows them to keep their own document that allows them to drive. For them there will be no obligation to convert their driving license, as is instead required of nationals of third countries, as is the case in Ukraine.
A Ukrainian woman refugee in Poland, therefore, will not have to apply for a Polish driving license. Similarly, if you are a citizen who finds protection in Italy, there will be no obligation to go to the motorization. The special concession responds to a proposal from the European Commission, supported by the European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg almost unanimously (561 in favor, 6 against, 5 abstentions). In addition, in the event of a lost or stolen driving license, EU countries will be able to issue new EU driving licenses, after having checked the case with the Ukrainian authorities.
It does not end here. Because following the Russian aggression in Ukraine, the EU activated for the first time the “temporary protection” regime, which allows immediate asylum, a residence permit for up to three years, and the possibility of working. In this sense, Ukrainians who have fled and are subject to temporary protection, if in possession of a valid driving license, in addition to not having to convert it, will be entitled to short training courses and tests to be able to work as a truck driver or bus driver.
This is not the first example of special schemes. Previously, the EU had granted “ex-post” permits for pets. Dogs and cats, in order to enter the European Union but also to move from one Member State to another, must be up to date with vaccinations and documents upon arrival. In the case of the Ukrainians, pets were made legal once they entered the EU. Here the analogous criterion applies.
For the special regime granted to Ukrainian driving licenses, the vote of the Council will now be needed, which should not hold any surprises. With this formal vote finalized, the “liberalization” of Ukrainian driving licenses will begin five days after publication in the EU Official Journal.