Intelligent Transport Systems in South East Europe: Towards a Common Strategic Framework for implementation

Intelligent Transport Systems can significantly contribute to a cleaner, safer, more efficient and more sustainable transport system, both for passengers and freight. In the region of the Western Balkans, the development of the Comprehensive and Core Network according to the Trans-European Networks standards, aims at the integration of this Regional Network in the European, the attraction of more international traffic flows and the increase of regional mobility. This development is the target of the regional cooperation that is coordinated by the South-East Europe Transport Observatory and the European Commission, as part of the Connectivity Agenda agreed within the Berlin Process and the relevant summits that followed for Vienna Summit. Deployment of ITS is one of the soft measures identified. In this aspect, the aim of a currently on-going ITS project, elaborated in the framework of Technical Assistance Connectivity financed by the European Commission, is to provide a strategic framework for the ITS (Road ITS, European Railway Traffic Monitoring System, River Information Systems, Vessel Traffic Monitoring Information System, e-freight) and Information Technology system (e–documents, interfaces etc) deployment in the SEE, through targeted action plans for each mode and their interfaces at regional level, but also to provide tailored-made recommendations for each beneficiary within the region, based on the European Union’s relevant legislative framework and international best practices. This paper presents the overall context and content of the ITS project, the methodology used and the current progress, in relation with the foreseen activities, which comprise the users’ needs assessment, the evaluation of legal framework and technical specifications and standards and the impacts assessment for ITS deployment, towards the definition and adoption of a common Regional Strategic Framework as a basis for further concrete actions that should tackle all related aspects (institutional, organizational, legal, technical and financial).