Conclusion: Martin Marmy

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Colleagues,

We are approaching the end of two extremely rich and fruitful working days. I hope you all agree that to devote this conference and the preceding IRU Academy Seminar to EU-related road transport matters while trying to draw a one-year balance of the enlargement of the European Union, has been a useful exercise.

During these two conference days, you have had a real opportunity to listen to the opinions of some leading figures and experts in our sector and confront these with your own.

As a result, we are all winners. We will go home with new ideas and motivations inspired by this highly professional and exciting debate.

What is more, we all take with us the Conference Resolution based on the contributions of the participants and agreed by this unique pan-European forum, containing the reflections and the actions we need to undertake simultaneously in our appropriate representations to our national governments and to journalists.

I can assure you that the IRU Secretariat General, together with all its staff, will shoulder the commitment taken under this Resolution. We shall spare no efforts in building, with your support, large coalitions to achieve these goals within all the international organisations in charge of the good functioning of the road transport industry.

Our strength and confidence in a better future stem from the fruitful contribution and daily cooperation of the unique international IRU network of road transport associations representing the "hard core" of today's supply chain logistics in more than 70 countries, and ensuring the welfare of not only the economy and citizens of Europe but also those of third countries for almost 60 years.

Another guarantee for future success is the permanent support provided by the IRU Secretariat General located in Geneva, Brussels, Moscow and also recently in Istanbul, contributing, with the support of IRU members and in cooperation with international organisations and national governments, to the shaping of transport policy in each region within the framework of the IRU policy decided democratically by our competent bodies.

Let me reconfirm, according to the IRU President's opening statement, the fullest commitment of the IRU and of its member associations to improve recognition of professionalism within our industry through the IRU Academy and to ensure the sustainable development of passenger and goods transport systems and logistics, at the heart of which you always find road transport. In all such transport activities, and to ensure the required mobility everywhere and for everyone, you will always find road transport as the mode most appreciated by all actors. However, to maintain the efficiency of our industry, road transport activities should be based everywhere on the harmonised implementation and enforcement of transport legislation whether in the EU or beyond its borders.

The Conference Resolution reflects these convictions and these two days have proved again that we are on the right track. I, therefore, recommend the adoption of this Resolution, which was open for public debate on the IRU's website long before this conference.

I would like to express my warmest thanks to the Speakers, as well as to all the participants and our partners, in particular IVECO, who contributed greatly to the success of this conference.

On behalf of the IRU, and indeed of us all, allow me to thank again Mr Einar Vallbaum, ERAA President, and Mr Toivo Kuldkepp, ERAA Secretary General, who have much contributed so much to the preparation and the success of this event.

Finally, let me warmly invite you to take part in the 3rd IRU EuroAsian Road Transport Conference, which will take place in September 2005 in Beijing, China. Over the last couple of years, the IRU has focused much attention on intensifying its presence in the Far East. The membership of the China Road Transport Association in the IRU has made it possible to convene this major event in this dynamically developing giant country.

The IRU EuroAsian Conference co-organised this time with the Ministry of Communications of the People's Republic of China, will give another boost to IRU's efforts to promote road transport's role, and highlight its obligations as well as its responsibility in today's globalised economy. The series of IRU TransEuro Conferences has fulfilled its mission. While not losing sight of the many remaining tasks on the European Continent, future IRU EuroAsian Road Transport Conferences will unite the road transport industry's European and EuroAsian biannual events into one joint reflection and strategic decision-making forum in the years to come.

I look forward to seeing you all in Beijing on 26-27 September and then at the next IRU EuroAsian Conference foreseen in Poland in 2007, following the recent invitation of our Polish association, ZMPD!

I wish all of you a nice evening at the Conference Gala Dinner and perhaps also a nice weekend in Tallinn, as well as a happy return to your home country.