Briefing: Mid Term Review of the European Commission Transport White Paper 2011-2020

In 2011, the European Commission published its Transport White Paper “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area-Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system”. This followed the EC’s ‘Road Safety Policy Orientations’ (RSPO), published in July 2010, a framework with the objective of reducing road deaths by 50% by 2020.

The 2011 White Paper was welcomed by ETSC, primarily for including a ‘Vision Zero’ complementing the “Road Safety Policy Orientations 2011-2020” target of halving road deaths by 2020. ETSC also welcomed the ambition “to be the best in the world”. The White Paper also reiterated the priorities set out in the ‘Road Safety Policy Orientations”. However, the White Paper fell short of integrating road safety in all policies that have an impact on road users’ risk levels, including for example, land use planning, public procurement, enterprise, environment or taxation.

While ETSC welcomed the adoption of the 2020 target, ETSC’s response to the RSPO was that it was a significant step backwards compared to the three previous European Road Safety Action Programmes. In 2010, the road safety community had hoped for, and expected, a new EU 10-year action programme providing a vision, priorities and a detailed road map against which performance could be measured and delivery made accountable. The RSPO fell short of those expectations.

Almost half way to 2020, the European Commission is now undertaking a review of the RSPO and the Transport White Paper, with the European Parliament undertaking an Own Initiative Report on the White Paper. This briefing reflects ETSC’s analysis of the measures that have been undertaken, but will also remind policymakers and other stakeholders of the need to redouble European efforts in the field of road safety and to strengthen and expand the scope of action needed to reach the 2020 target.