Prof. Dr. Reinhard Rack MEP _____________________________ EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Dinner Debate Invitation “The Future of Road Tunnel Safety in Europe” European Parliament, Members Restaurant Brussels, 19:00, 9th May 2007

EuroTAP, a three year programme supported by the European Commission is benchmarking the safety and quality of European Road Tunnels and informing European citizens. Led by ADAC, Germany, the project is implemented by a consortium of 12 European Automobile Clubs from 11 countries. See: www.eurotap.eu

Dear Stakeholder,

Three years have passed since the adoption of Directive 2004/54/EC establishing Minimum Safety Requirements for Tunnels in the Trans-European Road Network.  As the Rapporteur of the European Parliament’s Report on the Minimum Safety Requirements for Tunnels in the Trans-European Road Network Directive (2004/54/EC), I believe that improvement of the safety management of our European road infrastructure in all its dimensions continues to be an issue of immeasurable importance and common interest.

In parallel to the Directive, the European Commission also recognised the value of benchmarking and regular independent assessment as a stimulus and encouragement for decision-makers, tunnel authorities and operators to go beyond the legislative minimum standards while at the same time informing tunnels users about how to behave correctly in road tunnels under all conditions. The European Tunnel Assessment Programme (EuroTAP) was launched in 2005 with support from the European Commission to address these objectives.

On the occasion of Schuman Day, 9th May 2007 starting at 7.00 pm, I would ask you to join me in a Dinner Debate on “The Future of Road Tunnel Safety” organised in co-operation with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile. I intend this event to provoke a vivid debate among representatives of all active stakeholders in this field: the European Parliament, Commission, national authorities, operators and tunnel users. Our discussion of current and prominent issues should deliver a useful basis for the further promotion of road tunnel safety management in Europe.

Moreover, brand new EuroTAP test results will be presented together with insights into the practical impact of benchmarking road tunnel safety Europe wide.

I do hope you will consider this request positively and would ask you to confirm your participation using the attached reply form by 25th April 2007. 

I Look forward to welcoming you to what I am sure will be a fruitful forum of discussion.

Yours sincerely,

Reinhard Rack

Please click here to download the Background note, draft agenda and the invitation reply form