SPEECH/06/571
Jacques Barrot
Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Transport European forward thinking in the transport White Paper Review - Keep Europe Moving
13th ITS World Congress Intervention end of the plenary session London, 9 October 2006
I strongly welcome the initiative that the UK has made in its Foresight Project on Intelligent Infrastructure Systems looking ahead until 2050. We need to project today if we want to take the right decisions for tomorrow.
With this in mind, I would like to put intelligent transport systems into the context of our unfolding transport policy for Europe – 'Keep Europe Moving'.
Let me look at some examples:
Energy and oil dependence: "Green freight corridors" and a new generation of trucks using ITS and alternative fuels could provide significant strides forward in energy efficiency, in combating pollution and creating a new industrial market.
Environment: Short Sea. Shipping is the rising star of transportation means. We are in the process of developing the e-maritime concept. Our programmes on waterways like the European River Information System, the Vessel Traffic Monitoring, both incorporate intelligent systems. The same is true for the European Rail Management System and the new European Air Traffic Control System – SESAR. .
Road Safety : we promote road safety through vehicle design, infrastructure and behaviour. The e-safety initiative is an important tool..
Urban transport: 80% of Europe's population live in cities. The Commission's CIVITAS programme has demonstrated that combining intelligent transport and energy is a win-win-situation. I intend next year to publish a Green Paper on urban transport to take forward that important policy strand.
Freight Transport Logistics are key to sustainable mobility. I will present an action plan next year and smart technologies will be essential in all respects from security to the efficiency of freight movements and organisation of demand and supply chains. Galileo, the European satellite navigation system with hitherto unprecedented precision in location, will undoubtedly give a boost to innovation. The full GALILEO services should be available as of 2o10. In the next years I foresee that the different technologies such as GALILEO based systems, mobile communications with on-board driver assistance systems together with road charging will converge. Interoperability is the buzz word here and European standards will have to assure that. .I will bring forward a Green Paper on GALILEO based applications in November and I trust that the transport sector will be at the forefront of innovation.
This little demonstration shows how Intelligent Transport Systems are at the heart of our renewed transport policy.
The 21st is rightly called the age of information. Information is key to competitors.
You are in the business of creating the technology for information and communicating it.
But, information without management systems is like whiskey without a bottle.
Such management systems must be interoperable, safe and secure.
I am in the business of achieving the latter. Because, as European Commissioner, I must make sure that technology serves Europeans policies. Let me jus recall : ERTMS, safeseanet, River Information Systems, SESAR and Galileo.
My major policy papers on urban transport and on freight logistics will take the agenda on ITS agenda forward as far as road is concerned.
Of course "Brussels" cannot do it alone. Neither can national governments. We will need partnerships between the driving forces of industry and governments to identify the best possible policy decisions.
I am determined to "keep Europe moving" and I believe in the deployment of intelligent transport system as indispensable means to achieve that objective.
Thank you for your attention.
