This Thursday, Comissão of Petições of The focus of the debate revolves around the mandatory connected device for vehicles with Spanish registration, in force since the beginning of 2026, and the possible violation of free movement and non-discrimination guidelines within the bloc. The discussion gains strength after confirmation that the Spanish government did not follow the bureaucratic procedures required by Bruxelas before applying the new rule.
MEPs are examining four different petitions requesting the review or even suspension of the mandatory equipment, which replaced the traditional emergency triangles. The heart of the controversy lies in the fact that the requirement falls exclusively on drivers of vehicles registered in Espanha, while drivers from other União Europeia countries can travel on Spanish roads without the device connected. Essa disparity has raised concerns about equal treatment in the European internal market.
The political scenario worsened after the admission that the royal decrees supporting the measure were not notified to Comissão Europeia, a mandatory step for technical regulations that impact the common market. The absence of this prior communication can generate legal uncertainty and opens loopholes for infringement procedures against the Spanish Estado, depending on the parliament’s conclusions.
Irregularities in the notification of technical standards
The legal basis for the challenge in Parlamento Europeu is based on Diretiva 2015/1535, which establishes the obligation for Estados-members to inform Bruxelas about any draft technical regulation before its adoption. Comissão Europeia, through an official response to a parliamentary question, confirmed that Espanha failed to communicate the decrees that established the V-16 beacon.
The executive vice-president of Comissão, Stéphane Séjourné, clarified that the responsibility for the decision to make the equipment mandatory lies entirely with the Spanish government. The lack of transparency in the legislative process prevents other countries and Comissão itself from assessing in advance whether the new rule creates unjustified barriers to trade or the circulation of goods and services.
MEP Dolors Montserrat, from Partido Popular Europeu, was responsible for formally questioning the situation, bringing the procedural flaw to light. The response obtained served as a catalyst for Comissão of Petições to agree to analyze citizens’ complaints, placing Spanish traffic legislation under the scrutiny of European authorities.
Features and connection with DGT
The device that generated the impasse is technically advanced and aims to modernize emergency management on highways. The V-16 beacon is a small signaling device that emits a high-intensity yellow light in a 360-degree radius. Sua principal função é alertar outros motoristas sobre a presença de um veículo parado na via, sem que o condutor precise sair do carro para posicionar triângulos, reduzindo o risco de atropelamentos.
Unlike common beacons, the model approved by Dirección General of Tráfico (DGT) has integrated connectivity. When activated, the equipment automatically sends the vehicle’s geographic coordinates to the DGT 3.0 platform. The system uses a SIM card with guaranteed connection validity for 12 years, the cost of which is already included in the purchase price of the device.
Geolocation data is transmitted anonymously and allows traffic authorities to manage the flow and send alerts to variable message boards or the navigation systems of other connected vehicles. The technology promises to speed up mechanical and medical assistance, but its compulsory implementation has generated the current regulatory conflict.
Arguments about discrimination in the internal market
Petitions submitted to European lawmakers argue that the measure creates a distortion in the single market. Spanish citizens are obliged to bear the costs of purchasing a specific device, approved only by the national authority, while citizens of other Estados-members are exempt from this requirement when traveling on the same roads.
– The first line of argument highlights the financial burden imposed exclusively on local vehicle owners.
– Outro point raised is the possible violation of the principles of free movement, since the technical standard creates a barrier for products that are not specifically connected to the Spanish system.
– The petitioners argue that road safety must be harmonized at European level, and not fragmented by unilateral decisions that do not consider interoperability.
Parlamento Europeu has the prerogative to request additional investigations and pressure Comissão Europeia to take measures if it is proven that Spanish law violates Tratados and União. The current debate seeks to balance national sovereignty in matters of public security with the bloc’s rules of economic coexistence.
Mandatory schedule and fines
The transition to the new system was completed on January 1, 2026, the date on which emergency triangles were no longer accepted as a valid signaling method for the national fleet. Desde then, all vehicles registered in Espanha must have the V-16 beacon connected and approved.
It is important to highlight that previously acquired light devices, which do not have the ability to communicate with the DGT 3.0 cloud, have lost their legal validity. Road inspection is already authorized to impose fines on drivers who do not have the correct equipment in emergency situations or during routine inspections.
The measure aims, according to the DGT, to drastically reduce secondary accidents, which occur when vehicles or people are hit after a first breakdown. However, the effectiveness of the security policy now shares space with the legal battle in Bruxelas over the way its implementation was handled.
