The European Road Safety Charter now looks to Lisbon. On June 20th 2008, a presentation and commitments signing event will be held at the Auditório da Representação da Comissão Europeia, which will be attended by Mr. Rui Carlos Pereira, Minister for Internal Administration.
Approximately 100 representatives from Portuguese companies, associations and public authorities will also participate, all motivated by the common goal of reducing road fatalities. Mrs Maria Teresa Sanz-Villegas, European Commission representative and coordinator of the European Road Safety Charter, will present the initiative and its objectives for the next three years.
Portugal is one of the top five European countries to have made significant reductions in the number of road fatalities since the European Commission’s White Paper on European Transport Policy was published in 2001. In 2006, there were 800 fewer deaths in road accidents than in 2001, which represents a 42% decrease in fatalities*.
Nevertheless, continuous efforts must be made in order to increase awareness of this vitally important issue that affects each one of us every day. The European Commission’s objective is to save 25,000 lives a year on Europe’s roads by 2010 and in Portugal, like everywhere else in Europe, the commitment of every enterprise, association, institution, company and public authority, large or small counts. Each Charter signatory is actively encouraged to adopt new and creative commitments that will be fulfilled and assessed, then published on the Charter website.
From city councils to cycling clubs, the range of Portuguese signatories has been as diverse as the choice of commitments in action: Portuguese associations, institutions and enterprises from a wide range of industries have already pledged commitments to the Charter.
These include: Brisa, Portugal’s largest motorway operator; Deco (Portuguese Association for Consumer Protection); Equalchance, Consultoria e Formação; Correos de Portugal; Companhia Carris de Ferro de Lisboa; Gare (Associação para a Promoção de uma Cultura de Segurança Rodoviária); Apsi (Association for the Promotion of Child Safety) and Anebe (Associação Nacional de Empresas de Bebidas Espirituosas).
The event will be held on June 20th at the Auditório da Representação da Comissão Europeia, Largo Jean Monnet 1-10º, 1269-068 A, at 15.00h and will be followed by light refreshments.
For further information, or to arrange an interview please contact Eva Prudilová via email: eva.prudilova@paueducation.com, or telephone (+34) 933 670 434.