The ITS projects selected under the 2013 TEN-T Calls for Proposal are highlighted with a special publication at the European Commission and the Innovation & Network Executive Agency (INEA) booth at the ITS World Congress in Bordeaux. In the morning of the first day the newly selected CEF ITS projects received from Commissioner Bulc a symbolic check representing the EU funding made available to them. Read the full acceptance speech by Stephanie Kleine on behalf of the ITS corridor coordinators and the consortia they represent:
Dear Commissioner Bulc,
It is a great honour for us to receive from you in person this symbolic cheque, representing the EU funding made available to the newly selected CEF ITS projects. The substantial amount gives evidence to the confidence the European Commission places into the work of European road authorities and road operators. We take pride in this trust and we would like to express our gratefulness for this appreciation.
The Beneficiaries and Implementing Bodies working in the ITS corridors have proven their valuable experience in numerous ITS deployment projects in the past and will continue to do so.
The European co-funding of our ITS deployments has always played an important role for us. It enables us to harmonise national deployment of ITS systems and services in order to accommodate the requirements of seamless, cross-border services for European citizens.
Without your strong support, intelligent transport systems in Europe would provide a much more scattered, national landscape with significantly less impact on our prime transport policy objectives (Safety, efficiency and reduced environmental impact).
The implementation of the ITS Directive and its subsequent Delegated Regulations – directly addressing harmonised ITS services – will help as further steps towards these goals.
The transport infrastructure itself has been harmonised throughout Europe and the TEN-T network to a large extent. Signs, rules, direction advice, road types now allow seamless mobility across the border. ITS systems and service have to follow. The intelligent vehicle cannot work on its own; it requires the support from intelligent infrastructure
Well informed transport users experience safer and faster mobility on European roads, causing less environmental impact. Well prepared and well equipped road operators can manage traffic more efficiently, keep traffic going and make journeys more reliable. We are confident to make a huge step into this direction with the ITS deployment projects represented here at the stand today.
So dear Commissioner, on behalf of all project coordinators and from all the consortia we represent, thanks again for your trust and support, and be assured that the funding will contribute to future-proof deployment of ITS on the European road network.
