Govt approves Ukraine-Italy agreement on mutual recognition, exchange of driver's licenses

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved an agreement between the governments of Ukraine and Italy on the mutual recognition and exchange of driver's licenses, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The Ukrainian Interior Ministry drafted a resolution to implement the domestic procedures required for the entry into force of the agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Italian Republic on the mutual recognition and exchange of driver's licenses, which was signed in Rome on July 20, 2021," the document reads.

The document, approved by the government, establishes the obligations of both parties - Ukraine and Italy - to recognize and exchange driver's licenses on the basis of reciprocity.

The purpose of the agreement is to create an opportunity for Ukrainians and Italians who move to live in the state of the other party to exchange a driver's license under a simplified procedure.

"[The document] establishes that such an exchange is carried out without the need to pass the relevant practical and theoretical examinations. It establishes the conformity of the categories of driver's licenses of the two states and determines the mechanism for interaction between the competent authorities to confirm the fact of issuance of a driver's license, which is submitted for exchange, as well as other conditions necessary for such an exchange," the explanatory note to the document reads.

The Interior Ministry said the agreement was concluded for a period of five years and enters into force 60 days from the date of receipt by the parties of the last written notice of their implementation of internal procedures necessary for the entry into force of the agreement.

Ukraine's Embassy in Italy said earlier that the Ukrainian-Italian agreement on the mutual recognition and exchange of driver's licenses was temporarily suspended from June 1, 2021.

A new agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Italian Republic on the mutual recognition and exchange of national driver's licenses was signed in Rome on July 20 as part of Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov's visit to Italy.

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