Updated 12.50 | Published 12.44
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full screen An A tractor in Oskarshamn. Stock photo. Photo: Suvad Mrkonjic/TT
The Swedish members’ resistance was not enough. The EU Parliament does not want to let 15-year-olds drive A-tractors.
In the future, instead, the age limit of 16, tougher driving license tests and permission to drive 45 kilometers per hour await instead.
Several Swedish members had tried at the last moment to get changes made, but had to see their proposals voted down in parliament.
“I’m pissed. Raising the age limit for Epor is a huge restriction of freedom for young people, above all in rural areas,” greets Swedish member Emma Wiesner (C) via SMS to TT.
Wednesday’s parliamentary vote means that final negotiations now begin with the EU’s Council of Ministers on updating the EU’s driving license rules, which include the new a-tractor rules. However, it will take until this autumn before a settlement is complete – and then even longer before the rules come into force.
The EU Commission has long been skeptical of the way Sweden allows young people to drive A-tractors, but has accepted a continuation of the system with the new rules.
– This has been an important issue for Sweden to secure what we think is important: namely the opportunity for young people to drive an A-tractor, said infrastructure minister Andreas Carlson (KD) when the EU Council of Ministers in December supported the 16-year-old limit, increased speed (from today’s 30 kilometers per hour) and more proper tests.