The Federal Council is currently considering a new draft regulation on driving licenses in Germany. One of the points is the recognition of Albanian and Kosovar patents.

Recognition of Albanian and Kosovar patents for immigrants residing in Germany is soon expected to become easier. The Federal Ministry of Digital Communications and Transport has asked the Federal Council (Bundesrat) to approve some changes in the regulation on driving license exams, including the conversion without additional exams of driving licenses from Albania, Kosovo, Moldova, Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

Which patents are recognized without exams? According to the draft, the German government proposes the recognition of patents from Albania without exams in theory and practice for almost all categories: A1, A2, A, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE. Only for patents from Albania belonging to the AM category for conversion a practical exam will be required. For driving licenses from Kosovo, conversion is provided without additional exams in the following categories: AM, A1, A2, A, B, EU, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE. 

Savings of at least 1000 Euros for each emigrant. The changes are expected to make life easier for thousands of migrants who have come from Albania and Kosovo to Germany. Under current rules for immigrants residing in Germany, the validity of the license expired after six months of residence. The conversion cost up to 1000 Euros, Xhevat Qerimaj, from the Sieber Driving School in Stuttgart, Germany, told DW. 

"Until now, the conversion of patients from these two countries required additional exams in both theory and practice, plus six hours of practical training. In total they were at least 1,000 Euros ", says DW Xhevat Qerimaj. "Many of the immigrants who came with the Regulation of the Western Balkans, who did not know German well did not have a chance to take the theoretical exam," Xhevat Qerimaj added for DW. 

A request made two years ago by the Kosovo and Albanian embassies in Berlin for driving license exams to be conducted - at least temporarily - in Albanian was rejected in December last year. 

Approval in February? The draft regulation is expected to be considered on January 26 at the regular session of the Commission for Digital Communications and Transport, sources from the Federal Council told DW. If there are no proposals for changes, the regulation can be approved as early as February 11, in the plenary session of the Federal Council. 

The proposed changes are based on the draft bilateral agreement of Germany with Albania, respectively with Kosovo, which is expected to be ratified immediately after approval by the Federal Council. 

The issue of granting patents to immigrants residing in Germany had gone to the table of former Chancellor Angela Merkel. In almost every meeting with the leaders of the respective countries, driving licenses were discussed. Diplomats in Berlin say it was the former chancellor's personal commitment that accelerated the process.

(Source: DW)