Welcome to Lisbon and to the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic.
Here we will be holding the 3rd Inter-parliamentary Conference dedicated to Road Safety.
We hope that you can represent the Parliaments of your countries and discuss the harmonisation of concepts and principles in the European road safety policy.
This is a subject that unites all the European states. The first steps have already been taken in this joint effort to combat the causes that are responsible for 70% of accidents in Europe, namely:
• speeding,
• drinking,
• driving and not wearing a seat belt,
• driving and not obeying traffic lights.
In view of the fact that the citizens of Europe have deposited their faith in us, through their votes, it will be important for us to continue along the path of reducing road accidents and finding new solutions to prevent the death of European citizens on the roads.
It is important to create greater cohesion across Europe by applying more uniform criteria, attempting to change the road behaviour of drivers and pedestrians, and building a safer and friendlier road environment, which lead us to very low accident rates.
This is why we need to meet in Lisbon. On 29 and 30 September, the beauty of Lisbon will help us create a more harmonious common strategy, within the scope of the goals that already unite us.
Enjoy your parliamentary recess.
We are counting on you,
The Chairman of the Subcommittee
Nelson Baltazar