In May, the European Parliament's Transport Committee (TRAN) approved a provisional agreement on updated European Union (EU) driving licence rules. These rules provide for the introduction of a digital driving licence and its link to an EU-wide digital wallet.
Under the preliminary agreement, the digital driving licence will work on smartphones and become the main form of document across the EU. However, MEPs ensured that drivers will still be able to choose to get a physical licence card if they want to carry it in their wallets.
The Ministry of Economy and Innovation (EIMIN) reveals that Lithuania has already begun preparing for the digitalization of driver's licenses and hopes that drivers will willingly accept this innovation.
"We plan to create an opportunity to issue a digital driver's license to citizens in a digital identity case. Currently, Lithuanian institutions are participating in several <…> initiatives. Currently, Lithuanian representatives are participating in working groups established by the European Commission, which are discussing the implementing acts of the eIDAS 2.0 regulation and technologies that determine the exact infrastructure specifications. We believe that Lithuanian citizens will accept this innovation well and use it," says EIMIN.
According to the ministry, the experience of previous projects allows us to assume that drivers will accept digitalization positively.
"A large part of everyday services in Lithuania have already been transferred to the digital space and Lithuanian citizens are actively using them. The European digital identity case will allow you to conveniently and reliably submit your documents in Lithuania and the EU," EIMIN listed the advantages.
The ministry noted that the project is time-consuming and investment-intensive, but a payback is expected in the long term.
"The digitization of documents will significantly reduce the administrative burden and help save money both domestically and in cross-border transactions. This is an important step towards the digitization of daily operations," the ministry's specialists are convinced.
Will work if implemented properly
Erlandas Mikėnas, President of the Lithuanian Transporters' Association LINAVA, assured that transporters positively evaluate every initiative that makes life easier for drivers. According to him, digitalization could bring real benefits to the transport sector, but he also drew attention to the need for practical application.
"A digital driver's license could make the work of truck drivers engaged in international transport easier if border checks were simplified and the need for physical documents reduced," said E. Mikėnas.
"However, it is important to ensure that the system is harmonised across all EU countries, operates reliably and does not impose additional administrative burdens. It is also necessary to address technical access issues – not all drivers have smartphones or stable internet on the road," he added to Elta.
Project launch delayed in Ireland
Other European countries are also preparing for the new phase of driver's licenses. Ireland plans to introduce the possibility of having a driver's license on your phone this year. The Journal Investigates' Maria Delaney points out that the project was supposed to start last year, but unforeseen difficulties arose.
"The relocation was supposed to be completed by the end of 2024, but during the pilot project it was found that people with special needs were facing certain challenges," the journalist said.
The Irish Department of Public Expenditure is also working with partners in Europe to ensure the security of the application being developed. It is planned that the digital driver's license in the country will work in conjunction with the "Life Events Portal" - a one-stop system for public services related to events such as: birth, death, marriage or divorce.
Part of Europe is already a step ahead
Spain and Austria have gone even further in the digitalization of driving licenses. In March 2020, the Spanish Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) launched the miDGT app, which allows citizens to have a digital driving license on their phone. It also allows them to see the remaining points, vehicle data, fines and additional information. The emergence of the app was accelerated by the COVID-19 virus, as, according to journalists from the El Confidencial portal, the aim was to reduce the number of contacts in service providers. This digital license has full legal force nationwide.
However, this digital certificate does not yet meet the requirements of the future European digital format, so Spain is preparing to adapt its system to common EU standards. The main discussions in the country are about interoperability, data protection, digital certificates in case of internet connection failure and the option of a physical certificate.
Meanwhile, Austria has been developing a digital driver's license since 2019, and it will be available on a smartphone from October 2022. This requires the installation of ID Austria, a digital identity authentication tool, and two apps: Digitales Amt and eAusweise. The latter will eventually allow all personal documents to be held in digital format. Currently, the digital license, like in Spain, is only valid within Austria.
According to journalists from the Der Standard portal, when developing a digital certificate, questions arose about what to do in the event of a phone theft and how to police will be able to revoke a digital license in the event of a violation. However, the discussions were quickly concluded by introducing additional functionality with the ability to mark a driving license as invalid. In February 2024, Austria also introduced a digital car registration certificate. Now, it is enough to have a phone during a traffic check.
ELTA reminds that the European Parliament has already approved the digital identity wallet. This is an EU-wide tool that will allow citizens to securely connect to public services online, receive documents or sign them with an electronic signature. It is planned to integrate the new driver's licenses into this wallet. The use of the wallet will be voluntary, it will be free of charge, and data protection will be ensured. According to the MEPs who voted for the resolution, this is a step towards a safer and more convenient digital space without private intermediaries.
This content was produced by ELTA, a member of the European initiative PULSE, which supports international journalistic cooperation. The Irish news portal The Journal Investigates, the Spanish news portal El Confidencial and the Austrian news portal Der Standard contributed to the article.
Ieva Kniukštienė (ELTA)
