Association of European Vehicle and Driver Registration Authorities (EReg)
The Association of European Vehicle and Driver Registration Authorities (EReg) – European driver and vehicle registration authorities have held an annual meeting for some time and have gradually been developing better international links. However, a number of countries have taken the view that this process needs to be speeded up and an established mechanism for forging more robust and closer links would be mutually beneficial. As a result EReg was set up, following the 2006 annual conference which was attended by representatives of 26 authorities and the European Commission.
The aim of EReg is to strengthen existing liaison procedures between authorities and to make them more comprehensive, effective and generally useful. This will help to provide better structures for dealing with issues which are common to all authorities such as cross border enforcement and the exchange of data.
Some of the benefits of EReg can be summarised as follows:
i) giving European registration and licensing authorities a more authoritative and effective voice in influencing the EU Commission and other organisations on appropriate issues. A united approach by member authorities at Commission sponsored meetings will help to ensure that practical experience and information is given greater weight in Commission deliberations. That said, the intention is not in any way to intervene between national authorities and the Commission but to support member authorities when requested;
ii) improved ability to deal with cross-border issues such as circulation of foreign vehicles, payment of fines and penalties, crime and fraud issues such as stolen vehicles and vehicle related fraud;
iii) improved data exchange arrangements. If all authorities act together to an agreed plan there is a better chance that order and process can be brought to bare on the present increasingly chaotic situation in Europe;
iv) collaboration and knowledge sharing will help to facilitate the resolution of issues of mutual concern. The establishment of an enquiry and contact facility through the central secretariat will support this process;
v) the mutual development of common standards will assist in the development of new initiatives;
vi) the establishment of a fixed annual meeting will give all member authorities the opportunity to raise issues of concern and for them to be discussed in an authoritative and professional context;
vii) a staff secondment and development programme could help key staff in member authorities develop a wider range of skills and build up an enhanced network of contacts.
The EReg chairman, Trevor Horton is a recently retired Director from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Great Britain and Elaine Morgan, the secretariat, is a DVLA employee who works part time on EReg business. These positions are for a tenure of three years. They are supported by an Advisory Group which is currently made up of representatives from the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, Sweden and UK and meets several times a year. At present, 18 European registration authorities are full members of EReg, with a few more awaiting internal clearance to join. The aim is to increase membership across Europe during 2007.