The campaign for road safety in Montenegro has been launched

The regional campaign "It's a Thin Line" aimed at increasing safety at railway crossings and roads in the Western Balkans was launched today in Montenegro by the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, the Ministry of Capital Investments of Montenegro and the EU Delegation.

“It is a great pleasure to be present here today, where we have the opportunity to present some of the plans and activities from the established measures that Montenegro, as a signatory to the contract on the transport community, is implementing in cooperation with partners from the region and the secretariat of the Transport Community. Montenegro and its partners from the Transport Union joined the project "Improving safety at road-railway crossings", which is being implemented in two phases. In the first phase, an analysis of the existing situation was made and recommendations for increasing safety in terms of insurance at road-railway crossings were determined. In the second phase, each member of the Transport Community has the opportunity to apply for funds from the European Funds for the design, procurement and installation of equipment. It is my pleasure to inform you today that a few weeks ago, Montenegro submitted a request for financing the improvement of safety at level crossings to the European Commission, announced the Deputy Prime Minister for Regional Development.

Although they represent a small percentage of traffic accidents, the severity of collisions at railway crossings is often high compared to other accidents. 59% result in deaths and serious injuries. I am glad that we have the full support of the ministry and the EU Delegation to jointly approach this problem. By joining forces, coordinating our actions and taking a regional approach to increasing public awareness, we can reduce the number of accidents at railroad crossings according to the "Zero Vision" by 2050, said director Zakonjšek.

Minister Ibrahimović expressed his satisfaction because today Montenegro takes over the chairmanship of the Transport Community and what can be proudly pointed out is that our country was dedicated to this process at all levels throughout the entire period of establishment of the Transport Community, as well as after the establishment of the Permanent Secretariat in Belgrade.

I am also pleased that today I have the opportunity to remind you of another important segment of international cooperation, which we further strengthened by obtaining the status of an observer country in the International Organization of Sea Ports ESPO, which was formalized at the General Assembly held on the first of July this year in Valencia, announced the Minister of Capital investment of the Government of Montenegro.

I take the opportunity to thank you for the warm welcome and to emphasize that the reason for today's meeting is of great importance, especially if you bear in mind that the common task of the countries of the region is to work on improving the traffic infrastructure, in parallel with the work on strengthening citizens' awareness of the possible consequences and dangers they carry improper behavior, said Yngve Engrstro in front of the delegation of the European Union in Montenegro.
There are still many challenges before the countries of the Western Balkans, both in terms of work on further harmonization with European legislation in traffic policy, as well as in the policy of strengthening traffic infrastructure and establishing high European standards in design and construction itself, and in this sense I am particularly pleased by the fact that, on today's day, Montenegro takes over the chairmanship of the Transport Community, Ibrahimović announced.

Strengthening the traffic infrastructure through joint projects is a clear signal with which we send a message to the international community that all activities must be synchronized and harmonized with European legislation. We are well on our way to creating all the preconditions for an even more intensive strengthening of regional cooperation, said Liburn Aliu, Minister of Infrastructure and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Albania.

The executive director of the Port of Bar, Ilija Pješčić, welcomed the distinguished guests, adding that the Port of Bar supports the action plan of the Transport Union, with the expectation that it can be a significant support in the implementation and financing of important projects. He also informed those present about the activities that the management and employees carry out in terms of improving technology and work processes, primarily in the procurement of mechanization, but also about the activities of deepening part of the port's water area, an important project that is being implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Capital Investments.