This Decision shall apply to all valid driving licences issued by the Member States which are in circulation.
Tables of equivalences between categories of driving licences, which have been issued in Member States prior to the full implementation of Directive 91/439/EEC and the harmonised categories of driving licences as defined in Article 3 of Directive 91/439/EEC are set out in Annex I to this Decision.
1.Categories of driving licences which have been issued prior to the implementation of Directive 91/439/EEC entitle the holder to drive vehicles of the corresponding categories as described in Annex I to this Decision without exchange of the driving licence. Certain restrictions may apply and are stated for the relevant entitlement in Annex I to this Decision.
2.On exchange of a driving licence to a Community model driving licence as described in Annexes I and I(a) to Directive 91/439/EEC the equivalent entitlements shall be granted as described in Annex I to this Decision.
3.Codes which indicate the restriction of corresponding entitlements are harmonised Community codes as defined by Article 7 of Directive 91/439/EEC.
4.The Community principle of mutual recognition as stated in Article 1(2) of Directive 91/439/EEC does not apply to national categories of driving licences.
Decision 2000/275/EC is repealed with effect from the date of entry into force of this Decision.
References to the repealed Decision shall be construed as references to this Decision and shall be read in accordance with the correlation table in Annex II.
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 25 August 2008.
For the Commission
Antonio Tajani
Vice-President