The Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku and the Parliamentary Secretary of State at the German Federal Ministry for Digital Development and Infrastructure, Oliver Luksic, signed on Tuesday an agreement in Tirana that paves the way for mutual recognition of driving licenses.

According to an announcement of the German Embassy in Tirana, the new rules enter into force on June 1, 2022.

Holders of a driving license of categories A, A1, A2, B, EU, C, C1, C2, D, D1, D2 (engine, car, truck, bus), issued after January 24, 2017, can do the conversion without the need for a new exam, the embassy explained.

According to the embassy, the agreement applies to citizens residing in Germany (staying in Germany for at least 185 days a year).

“Through this agreement for Albanian citizens in Germany, the possibility of a secure legal access to the labor market is created, for which a driving license is often an important criterion,” the embassy said.

For Germany, this recognition represents an important development in addressing the shortage of skilled labor.

Minister Balluku in her speech stressed the importance of this agreement, not only for Albanian citizens living in Germany, but also for those who will visit this country.

Minister Balluku announced that the achievement of this agreement is also a certification of a standard that, according to her, has already been reached and is in full compliance with EU standards.

"For a country that has long aspired to EU membership and is step by step increasing the measures and efforts to achieve this goal, this certification is hopeful for the future of Albania," said Balluku.

She stressed that a lot of work and serious efforts were needed to reform the transport sector, bringing it in full compliance with EU directives.

"A special importance has been paid to the model and production of the Albanian driving license with high security elements to be in accordance with all security elements required by European partners," the minister added.

On the other hand, the Secretary of State at the German Federal Ministry, Oliver Luksic stated that the signing of the agreement on mutual recognition of driving licenses is a step forward for Albania towards European integration.

"Recognition of driving licenses is an important contribution to the rapprochement of our two countries and an important signal for Albanians living in Germany, to be able to move freely. I think the most important dimension is the European one, it is an important signal for rapprochement not only with Germany, but also Europe,” he noted. He announced that there are a number of other areas in which the two countries are cooperating.