Road safety: halving the number of road accident victims by 2010

At the Presidency's initiative, the Council held a detailed discussion, structured by a questionnaire, on the European road safety action programme in the presence of Mr Jacques BARROT, Vice‑President of the Commission with responsibility for transport.

In June 2003 the European Commission submitted its European road safety action programme. The programme involves targeted measures to be implemented by 2010 in order to halve the number of road accident victims in the European Union by 2010. In June 2003 the Council adopted conclusions as a political response to the action programme.

In the action programme, the European Commission announces that it will carry out a mid‑term review in 2005. This will enable it in particular it to assess the road safety implications of European Union enlargement. The Commission leaves open the option of proposing regulatory measures.