By Henrietta Billings - 27th June 2005
Luxembourg's hopes of securing an agreement on European - wide driving licences have been scuppered after a minority of national governments rejected the proposals.
Europe's ministers could not agree at Monday's meeting - the last transport council under the Luxembourg EU presidency - on plans that would replace an existing 110 types of licence different certificates with a pan-European version.
Germany led a blocking minority including France, Austria, Poland and Denmark who all objected to provisions in the plans which would make drivers hand in their current licences.
"Germany felt that people are still very attached to their national licenses," said one EU source. "And many countries felt it was premature to exchange all existing licences - they felt it was not something the public would agree to."
Securing a deal will now fall to the forthcoming UK EU presidency, due to take office on Friday July 1, with negotiations scheduled to re-start after the German elections.
Other items on the agenda included proposals for EU wide air traffic controllers licence - plans to harmonise qualifications for air traffic controllers, enabling workers to move throughout the EU with a mutually recognised licence.
The plans were waived through by ministers, which have already been given the green light by the European Parliament.
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