2008 - 2014: European Directive for personnel and freight transport

The European Directive governing the issue of driving licences, professional competencies and refresher courses for drivers of category C, C+E, D, D+E vehicles and subcategory C1, C1+E, D1, D1+E vehicles was published in Belgium by Royal Decree on 4th May 2007.

Extract from the Belgisch Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees with the corresponding Royal Decree in PDF (Dutch)

Certain key Articles from the Royal Decree:

Article 12. The Cabinet as referred to in Article 8, para. 2 grants or extends the licence of professional competence on the basis of the certificate from a refresher course, issued by a training centre in one of the EU Member States or by the competent authorities of one of the EU Member States. In this case, the individual in question furnishes proof that he has been able to obtain this certificate from a refresher courses in another EU Member State in accordance with Article 3, para. 4(3).
Article 13. para. 1. The period of validity of the certificate of professional competency shall be extended, even if its intrinsic period of validity has expired, for a five-year period by the authority as referred to in Article 8, para. 2 if the driver demonstrates that he has acquired at least 35 credit points by following additional training within a period of five years prior to the date of the extension. At the time when the extension is granted, 35 credit points shall be deducted from the credit-point balance.

Article 45. para. 1. The refresher course referred to in Article 3, para. 4 entails the completion of lessons at a training centre. Drivers who have completed at least seven hours of additional training shall be issued a refresher course certificate by the training centre. The Minister shall determine the model of the refresher course certificate as referred to in para. 1. High-grade simulators may be used in the delivery of part of the refresher course.
para. 2. Each training centre transfers the data relating to the organised refresher course and the participants in such courses electronically to the Federal Government Agency for Mobility and Transport (Federale Overheidsdienst Mobiliteit en Vervoer) in accordance with the means determined by the Minister. The data referred to in the first paragraph may be processed with a view to meeting the objectives as referred to in Article 75 of the Royal Decree concerning the driving licence.
para. 3. Seven credit points shall be granted for every refresher course in respect of each module attended lasting at least seven hours.