On the road to the Western Balkans Trieste Summit: talking connectivity

Following a TAIEX regional workshop on obstacles to good governance in the Western Balkans, preparatory work for the Trieste Summit is being continued today with a TAIEX Regional Workshop on Road Safety and Intermodal Transport. Organised in cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this focuses on two areas which will be addressed at the July summit, namely a Road Safety Strategy and plans for Intermodal Development for the Western Balkans.

In view of the summit, the workshop will provide technical level information to road safety and intermodal transport practitioners from the Western Balkans so as to advise them on the Commission's Road Safety Programme and on the Commissions' Intermodal Transport policy.

Connectivity in transport, telecommunication and energy are at the heart of the so-called "Berlin process" which aims to reaffirm the region's EU perspective and improve cooperation and economic stability. This year's summit in Trieste will give particular relevance to this topic, as investments in infrastructure are seen as a means for creating jobs, business opportunities and other benefits.