The European Commission (EC) has sent final legal warnings to 10 European Union (EU) member governments, telling them to abide by minimum standards for the training of professional drivers working in their countries. EU Directive 2003/59 imposes the requirement for compulsory basic training of 280 hours as well as periodic training of 35 hours every five years to update drivers' knowledge and skills.
However, according to the EC, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have failed to ensure that professional drivers in their countries undertake such training. It states: "To be a professional driver, it is no longer enough simply to have a driving licence." The 10 governments have two months to say how they intent to expand driver training or face the risk of legal action at the European Court of Justice.