Greek drivers will be issued new licenses next year that will contain a microchip used to store driver information, such as blood type and other personal details.

The new pink-and-yellow credit card-like licenses will be issued as part of a European Union drive to introduce the same permits across its 25 member states in a move that is also seen as helping to reduce forgery.

The microchip will also contain information, such as the number of penalty points gathered by the driver, and will let police officers know whether the license has been revoked.

Police will issue the new permits that will then be distributed by prefectures.

Greeks will have until 2013 to replace their existing licenses, while the EU hopes to have updated permits in all member states in the next 25 years.

Currently there are 110 different types of licenses issued across all EU states.

Once obtained, Greek drivers will then be required to replace the license every 10 years.