My thanks go to all of you for coming from far and wide to participate in the Transport Research Arena 2008. The Slovenian Presidency of the European Union gives me the pleasure, for just 6 months, of being able to welcome so many visitors to my own country.
I'd like to express my appreciation to the European Road Transport Research Advisory Council (ERTRAC) and the Conference of European Directors of Roads, for co-organising this event with the European Commission. A special mention is due to the local organising committee and the Ministry of Transport of Slovenia for supporting and hosting this meeting.
This gathering has one purpose – it is simple and clear - to strengthen our cooperation on road transport research.
It might be simple and clear, but it would be hard to exaggerate the importance of this cooperation.
Why?... Because it is only by bringing together representatives from the research community,... from industry... and from policy-making institutions, that we can achieve an integrated approach.
And it is only through an integrated approach – an approach that is based on the right mix of technology, innovation, investment and regulation – that we will be able to answer the fundamental question... the fundamental challenge... that faces us in road transport today:
"How do we maintain the freedom and prosperity that transport gives us today, without increasing pollution,... congestion,... deaths,... and greenhouse gases?... How do we break the link?"
Let's look at both sides of the equation. First, the positive side: freedom and prosperity.
For centuries, innovations in transport of all kinds have generated prosperity. Over the last fifty years, increasing mobility has been at the core of economic growth in the European Union. After all, the single market is built on four freedoms of movement – the freedoms of movement of goods, services, persons and capital.
At least two of these freedoms depend largely on physical mobility. The increasing mobility of people and goods has played an essential role in our economic growth, and our social and regional cohesion.
In short, our society has been transformed and our lifestyles have become dependent on effective mobility.
Road transport now represents a major source of industrial activity, economic revenue, jobs and technological development in Europe.
Yet the competitive pressures in the sector are intense, with the arrival of the € 1,700 car, the arrival of the $ 115 barrel of oil, and the arrival on the scene of strong competitors.
The European agenda for growth and jobs – the Lisbon Strategy - is about remaining globally competitive in this context, about improving our quality of life, but in a sustainable fashion. We want to boost growth and jobs by turning ourselves into a knowledge-based economy, but we also need to address the global challenges related to energy and climate change.
So now let us look at the other – more negative - side of the equation. We are all aware of the unfortunate – even tragic - side effects of our dependence on mobility: fatalities, congestion, pollution and greenhouse gases.
Fatalities... Despite our pledge in 2001 to cut Europe's 57,000 traffic fatalities by 50% before 2010, today more than 40,000 still meet their end on Europe’s roads in car accidents every year. That's the equivalent of five medium-sized airliners crashing every week!
Congestion... 1% of our GDP is wasted in congestion. Yet 30% of trucks on Europe's roads are running empty. And many that do have full loads should not be on the roads, because a ship could take that load using a fraction of the energy per ton-kilometre.
And emissions... Transport is responsible for more than 26% of green house gas emissions in the EU. And it represents 73% of total oil consumption in Europe.
That has to change. We are already committed to reduce CO2 emissions from new cars to 120 grams per km by 2012 – a reduction of around 25% from current levels. This will help, but it won't be enough to meet our wider obligations to making Europe a low-carbon economy:
* To reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 20%;
* To consume 20% of our energy from renewable sources; and
* To increase energy efficiency by 20%,... all by the year 2020.
I am sure that you understand the enormity of our task. With freight transport set to grow by 34% and passenger transport by 27% before 2020, we must break the equation.... Increased growth in transport capacity must not equal increased fatalities, increased congestion and increased pollution.
We have no choice. We have to break this link. It will need all the commitment and ingenuity that we can harness. But I am convinced it is possible. Not only that... I believe that we can actually make an advantage out of adversity.
To my mind, making the European transport industry "greener, safer and smarter" can actually boost our industrial competitiveness. The two goals are complementary.
The road vehicles of the future will need to be green, clean, safe and smart in order to succeed. These will increasingly become criteria of consumer choice. ...It is those that are able to respond to this demand that will win.
This is, of course, where research and innovation come into play. And I am happy to say, it is where Europe is in the lead.
Our motor vehicle and parts sector already invests more in research than any other European industrial sector. National research programmes are also addressing relevant technologies, such as alternative fuels and hydrogen and fuels cells. And the European Commission is right up there too. We are investing over 4 billion euros in transport-related research over the seven years of the current Research Framework Programme.
Does that mean that we have all the funding that we need? No, almost certainly not. But can we be more effective with the resources that we have? Yes, I am absolutely certain of it.
But effective research spending will only happen through effective coordination. And that, as I said, is the "simple and clear" reason you are here today.
Building sustainable road transport needs a systemic approach. An approach that links vehicles, infrastructure and users, and that links users with other users.
This means:
* maximising the capacity of road transport infrastructure,
* optimising traffic flows,
* integrating safety solutions,
* developing new intelligent mobility systems for urban environments, and
* improving links between different transport modes.
We must encourage the integration of transport modes in order to develop a seamless web of integrated transport chains, linking road, rail and waterways.
The European Union is now making considerable efforts to break down existing barriers between transport modes in this way. We believe that such integration will lead to improved flexibility, quality, and cost effectiveness of transport for our citizens.
Still, a range of obstacles stands in the path of optimum use of all existing infrastructure. That is why I call on all of you gathered here today to take on a ‘transport systems’ perspective that considers the interactions of vehicles, transport infrastructures, and transport services, in a holistic way.
Every one of you in this room today –
* whether you are a carmaker;
* whether you are a researcher;
* whether you are a road infrastructure manager;
* or whether you are an elected official searching for the most sustainable road transport solutions for your city or region
– every one of you in this room today is a partner in developing a state-of-the-art European road transport system.
Good partnerships are based on communication; and the Transport Research Arena is your chance to exchange views and build understanding about what each of us – researchers, industry, policy-makers - needs from the others.
This conference pools the best of Europe's potential and will act as a reference point for European research excellence in transport. Through your efforts:-
* We will enhance vehicle and road safety and save precious lives;
* We will move from a high carbon closer to a low carbon economy; and
* We deliver Europe from a resource-based to a knowledge-based society.
Through your efforts, the European road transport system will be cleaner, safer and smarter - a system to be proud of.
The road transport research community has done a great deal to promote the freedom of movement of people and goods, services and capital within the EU. You are about to make a further contribution.
By pooling your potential you will help to create a "fifth freedom" in the European Union: the freedom of movement of knowledge.
The freedom of movement of knowledge may not depend on road transport; but the future of sustainable road transport in Europe certainly depends on the freedom of movement of your knowledge.
