• English
  • Français
  • العربية
Follow us
Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM     25 Years Logo
  • Who we are
    • Who we are

      The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental institution bringing together the European Union Member States and 15 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

      Overview   

    • Who we are

      • Member States
      • Meet the team
      • Partners
      • History
    • Key documents

      UfM Annual Report 2019 25 Years
  • What we do
    • Notre action

      The UfM seeks to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on our citizens to address three strategic objectives: human development, stability and integration.

      Overview   

    • Human development

      • Economic Development and Employment
      • Higher Education & Research
      • Social & Civil Affairs

      Sustainable development

      • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
      • Transport & Urban Development
      • Energy & Climate Action
    • How we work

      • Political Framework
      • Regional Dialogue Platforms
      • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • The UfM Secretariat is the operational platform of the Union for the Mediterranean. The staff of the UfM is made of more than 17 nationalities working in a multicultural environment that fosters cooperation and intercultural communication and exchange.

    • Work with us

      • Vacancies
      • Secondments
      • Internships
      • Procurement
      • Roster of experts
  • Info center
    • Info center

      Find our latest press releases, press invitations, visual identity, key institutional documents, photos and other relevant information


      Download the UfM Visual Identity Guidelines and Logos (zip file)   

    • Info center

      • Media corner
      • News
      • Agenda
      • Publications and key documents
    • UfM in the Media

      29 November 2020, MCDoulyia. ناصر كامل: الاتحاد المتوسطي لا يعلب دورا مباشرا في الصراعات السياسية في حوض المتوسط
      View article
      25 November 2020, La Vanguardia. La UpM pone en valor el papel de la sociedad civil para el diálogo en región
      View article
      25 November 2020, Euractiv. Nasser Kamel: „Der Mittelmeerraum steht vor extremen Herausforderungen“
      View article
      See more
  • Contact

Coordinated action to improve road safety in the Mediterranean

Transport & Urban Development

Barcelona, 17 May 2016. The current road safety situation in the Mediterranean region constitutes a challenge with overwhelming health, social and economic impact. Indeed, in the 15 Southern Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern countries which are members of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), road accident  victims are very high,  with an economic cost estimated to be 3-5% of the GDP.

This issue is also of great concern to European Union Member States, and thus there is a need and scope for a truly shared Euro-Mediterranean common agenda to  address this issue.

As depicted by Habib Turki, Project Coordinator for Africa and Middle East of the International Road Transport Union, IRU, “road traffic is a key element of economic integration and growth, and thus good infrastructure and road safety have a direct impact on development, although we must remember that the overwhelming majority of traffic accidents can be attributed to the human factor, and thus public awareness, education and training are of critical importance.”

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 2011-2020 the Decade of Action for Road Safety. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development includes 2 targets on road safety: halve the number of global deaths and injuries by 2020 and provide access to safe, sustainable transport systems for all by 2030. The General Assembly adopted in April 2016 the Resolution “Improving global road safety”, including the possibility of establishing a Road Safety Trust Fund to support these initiatives.

In light of these facts, and given the renewed international political momentum, participants agreed that it is time for urgent action through regionally concerted efforts of all involved stakeholders.  In the words of Olga Sehnalova, Member of the European Parliament: “My presence here shows the political support for this initiative. I look very positively to urgent action on road safety prevention in the Euro-Mediterranean region”.

With these aims in mind, the first informal Expert Meeting on Road Safety in the Mediterranean region was held today at the UfM headquarters in Barcelona, as a forum to exchange experiences and good practices, analyse current efforts and actions, as well as explore ways to substantially improve road safety in the Mediterranean region.

Road Transport Meeting Photo 2

The main operational conclusion was that, as the European and Latin American experiences demonstrate, regional concerted action has proven very effective to prevent and substantially reduce road traffic accidents.

Maria Seguí, Spain’s Director General for Road Traffic and Vice-President of the Ibero-American Road Safety Observatory, OISEVI, elaborated on the positive impact of this regional Observatory, created in 2008 in order to exchange reliable data and good practices and to coordinate regional initiatives:  “I am very happy to present the successful experience of the Ibero-American Road Safety Observatory and I believe it could inspire similar initiatives in the Euro-Mediterranean region.”

Participants expressed their support for a regional approach to road safety prevention in the Mediterranean and agreed to explore the possibility of establishing a Regional Observatory on Road Safety in the Mediterranean, based on other successful regional experiences.

The meeting was chaired by Fathallah Sijilmassi, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean and Jean Todt, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Road Safety. UfM-labelled projects in the fields of transportation and infrastructure, such as the Trans-Maghreb Highway, include a road safety component.

Photo Gallery

Coordinated action to improve road safety in the Mediterranean

Share this:

Latest news

One Planet Summit: UfM, committed to act in favor of biodiversity
18 / 01 / 2021
UfM-supported framework SPREF: First Egyptian project for renewable energy is launched
22 / 12 / 2020
See more

Agenda

UfM Ministerial Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy
02 / 02 / 2021
UfM Ministerial Meeting on Energy
23 / 04 / 2021
See more

Who we are

  • Member States
  • Meet the team
  • Partners
  • History

What we do

  • Economic Development & Employment
  • Higher Education & Research
  • Social & Civil Affairs
  • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
  • Transport & Urban Development
  • Energy & Climate Action

How we work

  • Political Framework
  • Regional Dialogue Platforms
  • Projects and Initiatives

Work with us

  • Vacancies
  • Secondments
  • Internships
  • Procurement
  • Roster of experts

Info centre

  • Media corner
  • News
  • Agenda
  • Publications and key documents
  • Photo gallery
  • Video gallery
Co-funded by the European Union
  • Who we are
    • Member States
    • Meet the team
    • Partners
    • History
  • What we do
    • Economic Development and Employment
    • Higher Education & Research
    • Social & Civil Affairs
    • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
    • Transport & Urban Development
    • Energy & Climate Action
  • How we work
    • Political Framework
    • Regional Dialogue Platforms
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • Vacancies
    • Secondments
    • Internships
    • Procurement
    • Roster of experts
  • Info centre
    • Media center
    • News
    • Agenda
    • Publications and key documents
  • Contact
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Linkedin
    • Flickr
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
  • English
  • Français
  • العربية
Union for the Mediterranean – UfM    25 Years Logo
/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Necessary Always Enabled