Speeches: Hubert Linssen

---

Speeches

Mr Hubert Linssen General Delegate, IRU Permanent Delegation to the EU Opening Address

Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

I have both the honour and the pleasure to extend, on behalf of the International Road Transport Union, a warm welcome to both speakers and audience to this seminar.

I also would like to thank both the ERAA and Siemens VDO for hosting this event in these very nice surroundings, which to me seems the perfect venue for our joint IRU Academy / ERAA - Siemens VDO Seminar.

Let me begin with a few words on the IRU Academy. As some of you may know, the IRU Academy, the educational arm of the International Road Transport Union IRU, was launched in 1999. The creation of this academy was in response to the request from IRU members, in fact the industry, and also to fulfil the IRU's constitutional objective to promote the training and professional competence of transport operators and drivers. It was in response to this demand and to achieve the latter objective, that the IRU Academy was created… to reinforce the quality of services offered by the industry.

The initial product offered by the IRU Academy, based on market need, was the Certificate of Professional Competence, CPC Accreditation Programme, giving the IRU Academy Accredited Training Institutes as well as the Diploma Holders, the added value of the international recognition of their training and moreover their professional competence. Within this CPC Accreditation Programme, emphasis was placed on the harmonisation of training by setting high-level IRU Academy standards on training curricula, premises and instructor qualifications.

Since the introduction of the CPC programme the IRU Academy was able to rapidly expand its geographical coverage with 31 ATIs in 29 countries to date! It should also be known that the IRU Academy is not just a European network of institutes. In addition to -for example- Iran, applications from Israel, India and the People's Republic of China are now in the pipeline. With confidence I can say that the IRU Academy has grown to be a success.

The IRU has always been an active supporter of ADR and security in ADR to which testifies that the IRU is even mentioned in the ADR Agreement. Now, the IRU Academy will soon launch its new Dangerous Goods by Road, ADR Accreditation Programme. The main objective again is to provide quality training to all those involved in the ADR transport chain. It must be clear to us all that the IRU Academy will be the vehicle for greater security and safety through training!

Institutes or schools will be able to join this programme after compliance with strict criteria, but mainly after compliance with the criteria put forth for training materials and instructor qualifications.

The IRU Academy will bring, as added value, international recognition to the professional competence and training achievements of those ADR drivers and validate these through the issuance of the IRU Academy ADR Certificate.

This seminar will look at several aspects:

Let me conclude by emphasizing the importance of having this seminar. A seminar which brings together experts from all over the world, from different backgrounds whom will give you an update on the 'latest' developments regarding the Digital Tachograph. After all, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of this new digital recording device we have to answer one simple question … "Are WE ready for the proper Implementation of the Digital Tachograph on 5 August 2005!"

Dear ladies and gentlemen, this seminar organised by the IRU Academy in partnership with the ERAA and Siemens VDO, is there for you to provide you with a conclusive answer!

I wish all of us a fruitful meeting and I am very much looking forward to the interesting presentations and discussions.

Thank you very much.

[ top ]