1. Driving Licence Directive: 1st reading in the European Parliament
The report by MEP Mathieu Grosch (Belgium) on the reworking of the Driving Licence Directive was approved by the European Parliament in the first reading. The legislative initiative affects athletes who transport their equipment, such as boats, horses and gliders for example, by means of a trailer. While the intention of the Commission proposal was to reduce the maximum weights for the ordinary car driving licence (class B), awareness of the interests of sport has now been successfully raised in the European Parliament. The Grosch Report provides that, for driving licence class B, the regulations that previously applied, i.e. 3.5 t. total weight of car and trailer together, should be retained. Or, under certain circumstances and where appropriate training has been given, they should even be increased to 4.25 t.
The document is now being passed on to the Council of the 25 EU Transport Ministers as part of the joint decision-making procedure.
2. Swedish Leonardo Project started in the EU-Office
A Leonardo mobility project successfully submitted by the Swedish umbrella sports association (Sveriges Riksidrottsförbundet) is making it possible for seven colleagues from Swedish sports associations to complete a 6-week period of practical training each in the EU-Office of German Sports. The aim of the Leonardo da Vinci action programme is to enable people to obtain qualifications and further vocational training by following training courses or working in another European country.
The trainees from national and local associations are involved in the daily business of the office and deal with particular types of problems encountered by the project organiser. In addition, they will pass on their experience with EU-related projects to their colleagues in Brussels. Another aim of their stay in the European capital is to improve contacts with Swedish representatives in the EU institutions and regional offices. When they return, the trainees will act as disseminators, taking what they have learned back with them to their regional associations.
On 28th February Mats Hamberg, manager of a regional sports association with more than 800 member clubs, was the first programme participant to begin his period of practical training in the EU-Office.
