MEPs this month approved a convention that would enable a driver's country of residence to withdraw his or her licence for offences committed in another EU state. When ratified, it would be for the state where the driver is resident to decide on the appropriate penalty, in line with its own national law. The idea is that the state where the offence is committed will inform the appropriate authorities of the country where the driver resides of the offence. Viviane Reding (L, EPP) pointed out that, with 45,000 deaths on Europe's roads every year, this move represented a positive response by the EU to dangerous drivers across Europe. Present rules meant that a driver disqualified in one country could exploit loopholes and obtain a licence in another. Mrs Reding emphasised it was not a question of a centralised European bureaucracy taking the decision, but of allowing the member states the opportunity to adjust the punishment to fit the crime. Other MEPs such as Wilmya Zimmermann (D, PES) were concerned to see that citizens' legal rights were maintained. In view of the differences in, for example, permitted alcohol levels across the EU, Mr Zimmermann underlined the need to take extra care with this policy. The procedure will not apply to minor offences such as parking.