UITP-ETF Joint Statement: The Implication, Application and Further Development of Directive 2003/59/EC on Initial Qualification and Continuous Training of Professional Bus Drivers in Urban Public Transport

The UPT social partners highly welcomed the directive as it provides an opportunity for up-skilling the drivers’ profession and thus its attractiveness.

It further contributes to an improvement of health and safety of professional drivers and an improvement of the performance of the companies regarding the reduction of environmental pollution, the reduction of accidents and other benefits related to improving the quality and the professionalism of the drivers.

UITP and ETF believe that the directive has a positive impact on the concept of quality of services and quality at work, which is important in urban public transport.

Additionally, they stated during their joint project an impact on the development of training systems and on the organisation of the labour market. Depending on the situation in the different Member States, this impact is not just superficial.