13 March 2026 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Held during Intertraffic Amsterdam 2026 (10–13 March 2026), the ERF–ENBF Joint Tour took place on 10 and 11 March, offering participants a unique opportunity to explore innovation directly on the exhibition floor.

Organised by the European Union Road Federation in cooperation with European Noise Barrier Federation, and with the support of the International Road Federation, the tour guided participants directly to exhibitors’ stands, where ERF member companies showcased their latest technologies and solutions.

The involvement of IRF also reflects the ongoing unification process between ERF and IRF, marking an important step towards stronger global cooperation and alignment across the road sector.

A Tour Focused on Key Industry Challenges

Across the two days, the tour provided a clear snapshot of how the road sector is evolving in response to major challenges such as decarbonisation, circular economy, and enhanced safety performance.

What made the experience particularly valuable was its format: participants were able to engage directly with experts at each stand, discussing real-world applications and gaining practical insights into how new solutions can be implemented. This direct interaction ensured that conversations were not only informative, but also highly relevant to current industry needs.

Key Highlights from the Tour

Rethinking Noise Barriers for a Low-Carbon Future

The presentation by Sealed Air (Whisper®) focused on the decarbonisation of noise barrier walls, with particular attention to embodied carbon—now recognised as the main source of emissions for such infrastructure.

Speakers highlighted how Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Green Public Procurement, and evolving regulations are reshaping market expectations. The key takeaway was that sustainability must be embedded at the design stage. By reducing material use, simplifying structures, enabling recyclability, and extending lifespan, innovative acoustic panels can significantly reduce carbon footprints while maintaining high performance.

Making Sustainability Measurable

DELTABLOC and UNICMI provided a comprehensive overview of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and their growing importance in European construction.

Based on lifecycle assessment methodologies, EPDs deliver transparent and comparable environmental data. The session explained how they are increasingly used across procurement processes—from technical specifications to award criteria—supporting more informed and carbon-conscious decision-making.

The speakers also highlighted ongoing efforts to harmonise methodologies across product categories, particularly for noise barriers and road restraint systems, ensuring consistency and fairness across the market.

Faster, Smarter Foundations

GroundPlug® presented its steel foundation systems, focusing on efficiency, adaptability, and sustainability.

The systems are designed for rapid installation, reducing project delays and disruptions. At the same time, they support circular economy principles, as components can be easily removed, reused, and recycled. This approach directly addresses growing industry demands for lower carbon materials and more flexible construction solutions.

Transparent Barriers with Long-Term Performance

Polyvantis showcased its PLEXIGLAS® Soundstop transparent noise barrier systems, combining acoustic performance with durability and design flexibility.

With over 90% transparency, these solutions provide both functional and aesthetic benefits, making them suitable for a wide range of environments. Their long-term durability—supported by a 30-year guarantee against yellowing—was demonstrated through extensive testing and real-life applications. The presentation also underlined compliance with European standards and the recyclability of materials, contributing to sustainability objectives.

Improving Safety Through Better Design

GDTech focused on crash analysis for road restraint systems, with particular attention to complex configurations such as curved junctions.

Using advanced simulation and testing techniques, the presentation showed how safety performance can be improved by better reflecting real-world conditions. The findings highlighted that innovative, non-standard configurations can significantly reduce impact severity, contributing to safer infrastructure design.

Testing, Inspection and Certification for Road Safety Systems

CSI S.p.A. (IMQ Group) presented its comprehensive testing, inspection, certification, and engineering services supporting road safety infrastructure. The session highlighted full-scale crash testing capabilities in line with major international standards, including EN 1317, as well as the organisation’s role as a Notified Body for CE marking of road restraint systems and related products. A key focus was on innovative methodologies to assess the forces transmitted from barriers to bridge decks, addressing limitations of traditional theoretical and experimental approaches. CSI showcased advanced solutions using strain gauges and calibrated measurement systems, offering a more cost-effective and reliable way to evaluate real impact conditions. These developments contribute to more accurate infrastructure design, particularly for bridges and complex installations, while ensuring compliance with European standards.

Circular Noise Barriers from End-of-Life Tyres : Turning Waste into Infrastructure

Hatko introduced a solution that addresses two major environmental challenges simultaneously: waste tyres and traffic noise.

By transforming end-of-life tyres into noise barrier materials, the system delivers strong acoustic performance with a low carbon footprint. This approach illustrates how circular economy principles can be effectively applied in road infrastructure, turning waste into a valuable resource.

Safer Solutions for Bridges and Tunnels

REBLOC presented its EN 1317-compliant precast concrete barriers, specifically designed for high-risk environments such as bridges and tunnels.

These areas present unique challenges, including limited space, restricted access, and the inability to anchor systems into the ground. REBLOC’s barriers, tested across containment levels from T3 to H4b, provide scalable protection for both passenger vehicles and heavy goods vehicles.

Their compact footprint makes them ideal for space-constrained environments, while freestanding designs preserve the integrity of bridge structures. In tunnels, rapid installation and minimal space requirements help reduce operational disruption. A proprietary coupling system—requiring no loose components—further enables quick deployment and removal, improving efficiency and worker safety.

Combining Safety and Sustainability

Tertu presented its hybrid wood and steel vehicle restraint systems, highlighting the use of sustainably sourced materials such as Douglas fir.

These systems combine environmental benefits with high safety performance and are fully recyclable. The presentation also stressed the importance of certified transitions between barrier systems, which are essential to ensure continuity and reliability in real-world road conditions.

One Message, Many Solutions

Across all presentations, a consistent message emerged:
sustainability must go hand in hand with safety and performance.

The solutions showcased demonstrated that reducing environmental impact—through material innovation, lifecycle optimisation, and circular design—is not only achievable, but already being implemented across the sector.

At the same time, evolving European regulatory frameworks—particularly in relation to lifecycle assessment, carbon accounting, and procurement—are accelerating this transition and shaping the future of infrastructure development.

Strengthening Collaboration Across the Sector

Beyond the technologies presented, the ERF–ENBF Joint Tour highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange.

By guiding participants directly to exhibitors’ stands, the tour created a highly interactive environment that encouraged open dialogue between industry players, researchers, and policymakers.

As the road sector continues to evolve in response to climate, safety, and mobility challenges, initiatives such as this tour play a crucial role in bridging innovation and implementation—supporting the development of safer, more sustainable, and more resilient road networks.

10 March 2026 | Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The European Union Road Federation (ERF) and the International Road Federation (IRF) today announce the advancement of their unification process, marking a decisive step toward the creation of a single, strengthened federation serving the road and mobility sector worldwide.
Following an overwhelming vote of support from ERF members, both organisations are now moving into the formal transition phase, with final ratification expected in May/June 2026 and full operational integration foreseen for 1 January 2027. The unified entity will operate under the IRF name, with a reinforced European pillar dedicated to EU affairs and regional engagement.

The unified structure will combine IRF’s international network with ERF’s established presence within the European policy ecosystem, bringing together complementary expertise in advocacy, technical excellence, research engagement and capacity-building.

Responding to a Changing Infrastructure Landscape

The announcement comes at a time when road authorities, operators, manufacturers, and policymakers are navigating a profound transformation. Infrastructure networks are under increasing pressure to deliver higher safety performance, climate resilience, and digital integration,
financing innovation, and geopolitical reliability. In this evolving context, ERF and IRF have concluded that greater institutional alignment will enhance the sector’s ability to:

• Contribute constructively to European and global regulatory agendas
• Facilitate knowledge transfer across regions
• Strengthen coordination between policy development and implementation
• Provide a stable platform for long-term collaboration among public and private actors

A shared priority for both organisations is addressing the structural gap between the performance expected of modern road networks and the revenues available to sustain them. As traditional fuel-based funding models erode, European and global road actors must collaborate on forward-looking pricing and funding frameworks capable of ensuring resilient, transparent and socially acceptable long-term network stewardship.

Statement from Dimitrios Mandalozis, President of IRF

Dimitrios Mandalozis, President of the International Road Federation, welcomed the announcement as a significant moment for the international road community.
“Road infrastructure sits at the heart of economic competitiveness, social cohesion and territorial connectivity,” he said. “At a time of rapid technological change and mounting climate and investment pressures, stronger institutional coherence enables more effective collaboration.”
“The unification of ERF and IRF reflects a shared commitment to serve road stakeholders with clarity of purpose and strategic stability. By aligning European and global capabilities within a single federation, we are creating a platform that can better anticipate challenges and support practical solutions across regions.”

Statement from Joseph Marra, President of ERF

“This is a forward-looking decision shaped by the realities of our time,” said Joseph Marra, President of the European Union Road Federation. “European road actors operate in an increasingly interconnected environment. By aligning ERF and IRF under a single, modernised framework, we are reinforcing Europe’s capacity to
influence the global dialogue while maintaining the depth of engagement that characterises our work in Brussels. Our working groups, technical dialogue and institutional relationships remain central to the structure we are building. What changes is our collective scale and reach.”

Transition and Next Steps

The transition phase will continue over the coming months in accordance with the jointly agreed roadmap. The organisations will maintain their respective activities during this period, while preparing the legal and governance framework required for final ratification. Further details will be shared with members and stakeholders throughout 2026.

The European Union Road Federation (ERF) is a non-profit association which coordinates the views of Europe’s road infrastructure sector and acts as a platform for research and dialogue on mobility issues between stakeholders and institutional players.

The International Road Federation (IRF) is a global, independent, not-for-profit organisation with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Active since 1948, IRF is a
membership-based organisation, representing leading corporate and institutional players drawn from the road and mobility sectors worldwide. Its mission is to promote the development of roads and road networks that enable access and sustainable mobility for all. Its approach is centred on key strategic components of knowledge transfer & information sharing, connecting people, businesses, and organisations, and working on policy & advocacy.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

European Union Road Federation (ERF)
Nilufar Lebasi – Office & Communications Manager
n.lebasi@erf.be | +(32) 488 55 32 27

International Road Federation (IRF)
Maolin Macatangay – Communications Manager
mmacatangay@irfofficial.org | +41 22 306 0260

A total of 45 European transport organisations are joining forces and collectively urge national governments to strengthen European funding for transport under the future EU budget and particularly to increase the budget of the future Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to at least €100 billion.

A robust European transport network is of crucial importance in responding to Europe’s strategic objectives. Only with strong and state-of-the-art transport infrastructure at its core, will Europe be able to ramp up its resilience and military preparedness, reinforce its industrial competitiveness and safeguard its supply chain sovereignty. The sector stands ready to deliver, but cannot do so without adequate support.

While the ambitions and the investment needs are high, the sector continues to struggle with pressing underfunding and financing gaps. This trend of continued underfunding of the transport sector must be reversed and the EU Member States must set the bar high.

As such, if Europe is to succeed in its strategic priorities of a strong, resilient and competitive Union, it needs a robust European transport network providing the necessary fundament. This must be reflected in the future EU budget. With another round of discussions on the Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2028-2034 coming up during the General Affairs Council taking place on 24 February, all the signatory European transport organisations in an open letter ask the General Affairs and Finance Ministers to safeguard sufficient EU budget for transport under the future MFF and particularly strengthen the future CEF instrument. European support to the sector is now more pertinent than ever.

The open letter can be downloaded hereunder:

3 February 2026 | Brussels

On 2–3 February 2026, senior representatives from road authorities, industry, the automotive sector and European institutions gathered in Brussels for the CEDR–ERF Work Zone Symposium, a high-level event dedicated to improving safety in road work zones across Europe.

Jointly organised by the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR) and the European Union Road Federation (ERF), the symposium provided a platform for strategic discussion on how to better protect road workers and road users in increasingly complex traffic environments.

The event opened with remarks from Eleftherios Eleftheriou, Director of the Public Works Department at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works of Cyprus, speaking on behalf of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union. In his address, he highlighted the importance of road safety within the broader European transport policy agenda and emphasised that improving safety in road work zones requires strong cooperation between infrastructure operators, policymakers and industry stakeholders.

The intervention also recalled the Presidency’s guiding vision of “an Autonomous Union, Open to the World,” which aims to strengthen Europe’s resilience, competitiveness and ability to protect its citizens. Within this framework, ensuring safe and efficient transport infrastructure — including well-managed work zones — was highlighted as a key element in supporting mobility while safeguarding both workers and road users.

With Europe facing an ageing road network and increasing traffic volumes, the safety of work zones has become a major policy and operational challenge. The symposium therefore brought together senior leaders from national road authorities, infrastructure operators, technology providers and logistics stakeholders to exchange best practices and explore innovative solutions for safer roadworks.

A strategic dialogue on work zone safety

The symposium followed a two-day “lunch-to-lunch” format, bringing together decision-makers and experts for four thematic sessions covering the entire lifecycle of work zones: planning, operations, design, and interaction with vehicles and users.

Throughout the discussions, speakers emphasised that work zones remain among the most hazardous environments on road networks, where the proximity between workers and live traffic creates significant safety risks. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated action across infrastructure design, traffic management, enforcement and technological innovation.

Planning and coordination for safer work zones

The first session focused on the strategic planning phase, where many safety outcomes are determined. Panelists from national road authorities and industry highlighted the importance of integrating safety considerations from the earliest stages of project planning and procurement.

Discussions stressed the need for stronger coordination between road authorities, contractors, police and other stakeholders when preparing roadworks operations. Participants noted that early planning decisions — such as work scheduling, lane configurations and traffic diversion strategies — can significantly influence both worker protection and traffic safety.

Key themes included embedding safety criteria into tendering procedures, improving cross-border harmonisation of work zone practices, and aligning infrastructure maintenance planning with broader traffic management strategies.

Safe installation and operation of work zones

The second session addressed the operational phase of work zones, focusing on their installation, management and dismantling.

Speakers shared practical experiences from across Europe, highlighting solutions aimed at reducing the exposure of workers to live traffic. These included automated or remote-controlled equipment for installing traffic management devices, improved incident detection systems and digital tools that support real-time monitoring of work zone conditions.

Experts also emphasised the importance of clear and consistent temporary traffic management, particularly on high-speed roads such as motorways where driver behaviour can significantly affect safety outcomes.

Design, layout and protection

The third session explored how the design and physical configuration of work zones directly influence safety outcomes.

Participants highlighted the need for more harmonised approaches to temporary road layouts, signage and protective barriers across Europe. Innovative safety equipment — including advanced delineation systems and improved roadside protection devices — was presented as an important step towards reducing vehicle intrusions into work areas and improving visibility for drivers.

Discussions also examined how new design approaches can help accommodate increasing traffic volumes while maintaining safe working conditions for road maintenance teams.

Vehicles, drivers and freight

The final session examined the interaction between work zones, vehicles and road users, with a particular focus on digitalisation and emerging mobility trends.

Experts discussed the role of navigation services and connected mobility solutions in informing drivers about upcoming roadworks and helping them adapt their behaviour accordingly. The session also explored the growing relevance of connected and automated vehicles, which will increasingly need to interact safely with temporary road infrastructure.

Topics included improving driver awareness, integrating real-time work zone information into navigation systems, addressing freight movements near roadworks and leveraging cooperative intelligent transport systems (C-ITS) to communicate with vehicles.

Towards smarter and safer work zones

Throughout the symposium, speakers highlighted the potential of digital technologies and connected infrastructure to transform work zone safety.

Examples included sensors capable of detecting intrusions into work zones, real-time traffic information services, digital twins for planning and monitoring roadworks, and the integration of work zone data into connected vehicle ecosystems.

These innovations could support the development of “smart work zones”, where infrastructure, vehicles and traffic management centres exchange real-time information to prevent accidents, protect workers and optimise traffic flow.

A shared European commitment

The symposium concluded with a clear message: improving safety in work zones requires coordinated action across policy, infrastructure, technology and human behaviour.

Participants agreed that strengthening cooperation between road authorities, industry and technology providers will be essential to deliver practical solutions and more harmonised approaches across Europe. As Europe continues to maintain and modernise its road network, ensuring the safety of both workers and road users in work zones will remain a key priority for the European road community.

All presentations from the symposium are available hereunder:

19 November 2025 | Brussels

The European Union Road Federation (ERF) welcomes the European Commission Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on Military Mobility, released on 19.11.2025 – JOIN(2025) 846.

As the voice of the European road sector, the ERF is committed to enhancing the resilience of European road infrastructure, both for military and civil use. The Military Mobility communication correctly identifies the resilience and reinforcement of the European transport network as crucial both for the functioning of the internal market and for the European deterrence, security, and defense. Only well-maintained and well-functioning infrastructures can guarantee the effective and seamless mobility of military assets within the continent.

The proposal also includes measures to strengthen cybersecurity, energy security, and readiness both for peace and crisis times. In particular, member states will have the opportunity to identify strategic dual-use infrastructures and make them more resilient against all hazards based on a shared toolbox of resilience and protection measures that go beyond the instruments and requirements included in the Critical Entities Resilience (CER) directive 2022/2557.

Adapting the transport infrastructure to the dual-use (military and civil) calls for more funding, since military convoys often require reinforcement and enlargement of rail and road bridges and tunnels. For this reason, the ERF welcomes the EC’s proposal for a tenfold increase in the budget for military mobility in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2028-2034, with a proposed budget of 17.65 billion EUR under the future Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for investments in TEN-T dual-use transport infrastructure. Further investment instruments for the funding of dual-use and military mobility infrastructures have been identified in the new European Competitiveness Fund, ECF InvestEU, and the Horizon Europe Framework Program.

The ERF also supports the other initiatives proposed by the European Commission towards a “Military Schengen”, such as:

• Removing regulatory barriers for cross-border military mobility, with EU-level harmonised rules on military mobility and clear rules and procedures for cross-border military movements, with a maximum three-day processing time and streamlined customs formalities.;
• The institution of a European Military Mobility Enhanced Response System (EMERS) for fast-track procedures and priority access to infrastructure, supporting armed forces acting in the context of EU or NATO;
• The introduction of a Solidarity Pool and a Military Mobility Digital Information System to enhance preparedness, solidarity and availability of military mobility capabilities for Member States;
• A stronger governance and coordination, with the introduction of a new Military Mobility Transport Group and an enhanced Trans-European Transport Network TEN-T Committee.

16 October 2025 | Brussels

The Eurobitume Autumn Meeting on Sustainability, held in Brussels on 16 October 2025, brought together leading stakeholders from Europe’s road and bitumen sectors to reflect on how the industry can accelerate its environmental transition. This year’s discussions focused strongly on lifecycle thinking, material innovation and the broader systemic changes required to adapt mobility networks to climate, economic and social pressures. In this context, the ERF Director General delivered an in-depth assessment of the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Europe’s road infrastructure.

The intervention opened by reaffirming the central role of Europe’s five-million-kilometre road network in connecting regions, enabling trade and supporting local economies. However, the ERF Director General stressed that this indispensable asset is increasingly confronted with environmental, social and financial pressures that demand a comprehensive and forward-looking approach. Sustainability, he noted, must cover the entire lifecycle—from design and construction to operation, maintenance and end-of-life management—while accounting for climate impacts, biodiversity, social equity and system resilience.

A key focus of the presentation was the sector’s environmental footprint. Road infrastructure is linked to significant greenhouse-gas emissions not only through traffic but also through construction practices and material use. Progress in low-emission construction techniques and surface technologies was highlighted as essential. The ERF Director General also drew attention to the widespread ageing of Europe’s road assets. Years of underinvestment have resulted in a growing maintenance backlog, further aggravated by extreme weather events and the accelerated degradation of certain materials due to climate change. Design choices made today, he emphasised, will strongly influence the resilience and longevity of tomorrow’s infrastructure.

Resource consumption and circularity formed another important theme. Road construction still relies heavily on extraction, transport and land use, yet EU policy increasingly calls for reduced waste, wider uptake of recycled materials and infrastructure designed for reuse and durability. The intervention also highlighted the social dimension of sustainability: roads must be safe and accessible for all users. Particular attention was given to the needs of vulnerable road users and to the specific accessibility challenges in sparsely populated regions, illustrated through an example drawn from Finland’s Lapland.

From a policy perspective, ERF Director General noted that although the European Green Deal, TEN-T and the Connecting Europe Facility provide strong foundations, their implementation remains inconsistent across Member States. Fragmented planning, uneven technical standards and slow permitting processes continue to delay progress. A structural imbalance between investment in new projects and funding for the maintenance of existing infrastructure further complicates efforts to ensure long-term network performance.

Despite these challenges, the presentation showcased encouraging developments taking place across Europe. Innovative initiatives such as SustainEuroRoad, alongside advancements in smart technologies, automation, intelligent traffic management and multimodal integration, demonstrate that the tools needed for a more sustainable network are already emerging. However, financial constraints, differing national practices and behavioural trends—such as rising vehicle ownership and increased freight demand—still limit their widespread deployment.

The ERF Director General concluded with a call for a deeper shift towards lifecycle thinking. Broader use of lifecycle assessment and cost-benefit methodologies, reinforced investment in maintenance, accelerated material innovation and stronger integration with other transport modes were identified as essential elements of a sustainable strategy. Improved monitoring, data availability and climate-resilient design, supported by efficient regulatory and funding mechanisms, will be critical to aligning Europe’s road network with environmental and societal expectations.

He emphasised that Europe now stands at turning point. Connectivity, mobility and economic cohesion will remain core objectives, but must evolve alongside rising demands for climate action, safety and social fairness. Europe already possesses strong policy frameworks and promising innovations; what is needed now is consistent implementation and a renewed vision for how roads are planned, used and maintained. Only through such an approach can Europe’s road network meet the sustainability challenges of the years ahead.

10 October 2025 | Brussels

From 7 to 10 October 2025, the 25th edition of the Belgian Road Congress took place in Namur, bringing together professionals, policymakers, and innovators from across Belgium and beyond to discuss the future of road infrastructure. Organised every four years, the congress has become the leading forum in Belgium for addressing the societal, technical, and environmental challenges facing the road sector. This year’s theme was “The Road at the Crossroads of Societal Challenges.”

The programme was structured around four major pillars:

• Responding to societal challenges such as mobility needs, climate change, and aging infrastructure.
• Designing, building, and maintaining modern and safe infrastructure.
• Operating infrastructure to improve efficiency, comfort, and safety.
• Mobilising human resources, materials, and data for better management.

The event combined plenary sessions, technical workshops, exhibitions, and site visits, offering participants the opportunity to share expertise and discover innovative solutions.

Among the key contributors was John Kreps, a member of the European Union Road Federation (ERF). In his presentation “Smart Safety Equipment for Road Works: A New Generation” on Thursday, 9 October, he explored how digital technologies are transforming the safety of work zones.

Kreps highlighted how intelligent systems—integrating sensors, cameras, artificial intelligence, and connected platforms—enable the creation of “smart work zones.” These systems provide real-time monitoring, automated alerts in case of incidents, and seamless communication with navigation applications such as Google Maps, Waze, and Coyote. By warning drivers in advance and guiding them through alternative routes, the technology helps protect both road workers and road users while reducing congestion.

The intervention also underlined the economic and environmental benefits of digitalisation. Compared with traditional manual inspections, which can cost up to €350,000 per year and generate around 50 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, digital monitoring provides a more efficient, lower-carbon solution. It also allows for dynamic worksite management through digital twins, better coordination with road authorities, and improved operational efficiency.

Kreps concluded by posing essential questions to policymakers and practitioners: Can digital monitoring replace physical checks? How can these systems support the safe navigation of autonomous vehicles? Will authorities trust digital twins to manage worksites? And how can stakeholders accelerate deployment of such technologies across Europe?

Other sign of the strong presence and representativity of the ERF was the participation of ERF President, Joseph Marra (GDTech) in the same session dedicated to ‘Works on existing infrastructure, with a presentation on ‘Worker and user safety: from study to implementation. Practical cases’.

ERF’s active participation at the congress reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for innovation in road infrastructure, promoting safer, smarter, and more sustainable solutions. By engaging with Belgian and international stakeholders, the federation demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that Europe’s roads are ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

09 October 2025 | Bologna, Italy

On 9 October 2025, Bologna hosted the International Road Safety Forum, a full-day event at Palazzo d’Accursio bringing together European and international leaders to discuss current challenges and future perspectives in traffic safety. Organized with the patronage of the Municipality of Bologna and supported by initiatives or organisations active in the field of road safety such as  the European Road Safety Charter, EFA, UNASCA, CMB, and AIPSS,  the forum welcomed high-level representatives from the European Parliament, the United Nations, national institutions, academia, and industry.

Among the speakers was Christophe Nicodème, Director General of the European Union Road Federation (ERF), who contributed to the morning session “Road Safety Near Roadworks”. Addressing an audience of policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders, Nicodème emphasized the critical importance of improving safety conditions in road work zones — areas where both road users and workers face heightened risks.

In his intervention, Nicodème recalled the ERF’s long-standing commitment to promoting best practices and harmonized guidelines across Europe. He referred to the Federation’s working group on work zone safety, which since 2015 has collected national regulations and practical experiences to identify gaps and propose improvements.

Looking ahead, Nicodème highlighted the transformative potential of digitalisation and connected technologies to create “smart work zones.” By integrating sensors, cameras, AI, and real-time monitoring, roadwork areas can not only improve efficiency and traffic management but also provide instant alerts to vehicles and workers, thereby reducing the risk of collisions and accidents. He also presented the concept of digital twins for roadworks, demonstrating both the safety benefits and the economic and environmental advantages — including significant reductions in CO₂ emissions and operational costs.

“Work zones must evolve in line with technological progress,” Nicodème underlined. “By making them safer, smarter, and more sustainable, we protect lives and build trust in Europe’s road infrastructure.”

The Bologna forum, with interventions from international figures such as Jean Todt (UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety), Antonio Avenoso (European Transport Safety Council), and Luciana Iorio (UNECE), provided a unique platform to foster dialogue between institutions, civil society, and the private sector. Discussions ranged from road safety near construction sites, to the role of the European Road Safety Charter, to the global and future challenges of traffic safety.

The event reaffirmed a shared commitment to saving lives on the road — a commitment central to the ERF’s mission.

19 September 2025 | Plovdiv, Bulgaria

On September 18–19, 2025, Plovdiv once again became the center of Bulgaria’s road safety dialogue during the 11th Annual Conference on “Safe Road Infrastructure”, organized by the Bulgarian Branch Association Road Safety at the Grand Hotel Plovdiv. Held every year, this conference has firmly established itself as the country’s leading platform for cooperation in the field of road safety, bringing together representatives of state and local administrations, academia, experts, the civil sector, and business. Its mission remains consistent: to systematically and sustainably reduce road fatalities in Bulgaria by improving infrastructure, refining regulations, and advancing integrated safety policies.

This year’s edition opened with official addresses, including remarks by Christophe Nicodème, Director General of the European Union Road Federation (ERF), alongside Bulgarian and international leaders. Their interventions emphasized the importance of aligning Bulgaria’s efforts with broader European strategies on safe, sustainable, and decarbonized mobility.

The first day featured contributions from renowned experts such as Prof. Alexander Zeissler of the Technical University of Dresden, Stefan Pfeiffer of the Feucht highway police, and Prof. Borislav Hristov of HTW Berlin. Discussions spanned topics including psychology in mobility, accident investigation challenges, judicial approaches to road cases, and the insurance industry’s role in risk management. The day concluded with a gala dinner that provided space for networking and exchange.

On the second day, attention turned to national strategies and institutional perspectives. Presentations included Maria Georgieva of the Bulgarian Road Safety Agency on integrating safety into the investment process, Commissioner Dimitar Michev on accident statistics across the country, and Eng. Yordan Valchev, Chairman of the Road Infrastructure Agency, on future strategies for building a safer and more efficient road network. Engineering requirements for road surfaces were also presented by Eng. Rosen Koleliev. The event concluded with a joint declaration underlining shared commitments to safer, more sustainable road infrastructure.

The 2025 conference once again succeeded in combining local expertise with international best practices. As part of a well-established annual tradition, it reaffirmed Bulgaria’s determination to strengthen road safety year after year and to contribute actively to the European vision of safer and greener mobility.

25 June 2025 | Lyon, France

SER (Syndicat des Équipements de la Route) held its National Technical Day on “Retainment Devices & Temporary Signage and Marking” on June 25, 2025, organized with Transpolis in partnership with ASCQUER, BNTRA, CEREMA, ERF, IDRRIM, and RGRA at the Transpolis site.

More than 450 stakeholders in the restraint systems and temporary signaling and markings met on June 25, 2025 at the TRANSPOLIS site, near Lyon, welcomed by Aly ADHAM, President of the SER, Pascal RICARD, President of the SER Restraint Systems section, Alain FABRE, President of the SER Temporary Signaling and Marking section, as well as the union’s partners and its permanent staff.

Christophe Nicodème, Director General of the European Union Road Federation (ERF), focused his intervention on the European Green Deal and its consequences for the road equipment sector. He recalled that the ERF, based in Brussels and representing more than 60 members from industry, research, and national associations, acts as the “voice of European roads,” closely monitoring EU transport and mobility policies. He explained that the Green Deal, launched in 2019, and the new Clean Industry Pact of 2025 aim at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, and promoting decarbonization, competitiveness, and circular economy principles. For the road sector, this translates into new regulatory frameworks such as Green Public Procurement, which will impose sustainability criteria in public contracts by 2026, the Digital Product Passport, which will require manufacturers to provide standardized environmental and lifecycle information, and Environmental Product Declarations, which will become essential for future CE marking.

He then underlined that these measures mark a profound shift for manufacturers, who must now prove not only the safety and performance of their products but also their environmental footprint, making sustainability a central dimension of competitiveness in the years to come.

Participants were able to interact with experts in restraint systems and temporary signage at their booths. This event was also an opportunity to attend various conferences on ecological transition, heritage maintenance, regulations, standardization, and certification, among many other topics.

A highlight of the day was a crash test demonstration on a TMA (Truck-Mounted Attenuator), as well as various demos offered by exhibitors. The jury members for the video competition organized by the SER during the JTN also presented the five winners with prizes to recognize their outstanding achievements.

To download presentations and watch the crash test as well as picture of the event click here : https://www.equipements-routiers-et-urbains.com/journees-techniques-nationales

11 September 2025 | Brussels

During its annual Statutory Meeting on Wednesday, 11 June, the European Union Road Federation (ERF) appointed a new President for the 2025–2027 term. Joseph Marra, from GDTech, will lead the organization, supported by newly designated Vice-Presidents Myrko Bellmann (Spengler) and Rik Nuyttens (Road Federation Belgium).

Upon his appointment, Mr. Marra stated:
“I feel honoured by this nomination. The challenges that the ERF will be facing in the future are reinforcing my dedication to fulfil the expectations of our members. They can be assured that I will continue to support the position and reputation of the ERF throughout my term.”

The ERF members also extended their gratitude to outgoing President Harald Mosböck (Swarco) for his dedicated service over the past four years, which significantly contributed to the ERF’s growing recognition and influence.

05 February 2025 | Brussels

45 European transport organisations have joined forces and are collectively urging national governments and the European Commission to maintain and strengthen a robust dedicated European transport funding instrument under the future EU budget.

With the upcoming discussions on the next Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF), the 45 transport organisations underline that the European coordination and implementation of infrastructure across Europe is more than ever crucial. It is the only guarantee for safeguarding the smooth functioning of the EU internal market and is instrumental to enhancing Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and military preparedness – the key EU priorities for the coming years. The Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta report reaffirms this as a crucial policy priority, underscoring how a well-functioning European transport network is essential to drive economic growth, job creation,n and cohesion in Europe.

Therefore, Europe’s transport sector is very concerned about the Commission’s plans to redirect a large part of the European transport funding towards National Single Plans. In the run up to the informal General Affairs Council taking place in Warsaw in two weeks, Europe’s transport sector in an open letter is asking the General Affairs and Finance Ministers to give a strong signal to the Commission in favour of preserving a solid dedicated European transport funding instrument under the next MFF. Such an approach ensures that the European budget prioritises investments of high European added value and safeguards a much needed long-term strategic and stable investment planning.

The open letter to the EU Member States, with the full list of signatories, can be found at the link hereunder: