Negotiations continued late into the night until Tuesday.
It's good that we get an agreement in place that allows Sweden to keep 15 years as the age limit, and at the same time sets requirements for proper education with theory and driving tests to strengthen safety, says Johan Danielsson at 01:30.
It's an important victory, he emphasizes.
It's a everyday issue that is important to people. It's important for young people who need the opportunity to move around, to have the freedom to get to and from friends and football practice.
The decision on the age limit is part of a broader agreement on updated driver's license regulations in the EU, reached after final negotiations in Brussels. Originally, both the parliament and the council of ministers were in favor of raising the age limit for A-traktors to 16 years - but that will not be the case.
An opportunity is created for member states to lower the age to 15 years after approval from the EU Commission. But that opportunity is basically there for Sweden, as no other member state has A-traktors to apply for, says Johan Danielsson and adds:
Now it's up to the government to see to it that the commission approves this as soon as possible.
Definitive approvals of the agreement are expected to be made shortly in votes in the entire EU parliament and EU council.
The EU Commission presented its proposal for updated driver's license regulations in the spring of 2023, which included, among other things, a stricter regulation of the A-traktors that are unique to Sweden within the EU.
According to the proposal, A-traktors would be allowed to remain, but with a 16-year age limit and requirements for both practical and theoretical driving tests. At the same time, the maximum speed would be increased to 45 kilometers per hour.
The EU member states agreed on their view of the proposal in December 2023 and the EU parliament in February 2024. After final negotiations, it is clear that member states will have the opportunity to lower the age limit to 15 years after approval from the EU Commission.
The new rules will come into effect at the earliest from 2026.
