On behalf of Delegation of European Commission to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Ferdinand Kopp, Head of Operations responsible for Justice and Home Affairs handed over the European Road Safety Charter (ERSC) to Mr Elmedin Bajramović, BiHAMK Secretary General at the signing ceremony on 6th February 2008. By signing the Charter Bosnia and Herzegovina Automobile Club (BiHAMK) has become the first from BiH and one of very few non EU member state organisations that are members of the ERSC.

In his address, Mr Kopp pointed out that this event is an «excellent example of cooperation between the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina in this joint undertaking to save 25,000 lives a year by 2010 through concrete actions in order to improve road safety and further heighten awareness about the need to reduce road accident fatalities. » Reminding that only in 2007 on BH roads 40 000 traffic accidents occurred with loss of 430 lives, Mr Kopp underlined the need for a serious response. Before handing over the Charter Mr Kopp wished to BiHAMK a success in its future activities and safe roads to all citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Among other speakers Mr Osman Topčagić, Director of Directorate for European Integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina, stressed the fact that the Charter is more than just a policy document and signing it is not just a symbolic act. It is an invitation by the European Commission to all of us in Bosnia and Herzegovina to undertake concrete steps and to follow these 60 recommendations in order to increase road safety, to reduce road accident fatalities, to increase overall safety as a benefit for all of us, concluded Mr Topčagić.

Talking on behalf of BiHAMK management, Mr Rasim Kadić expressed his satisfaction that BiHAMK was given the opportunity to become a member of this European Initiative. Also, he mentioned that signing this Charter is recognition of previous BiHAMK work and additional responsibility to BiHAMK to pursue with its activities in future.

All other speakers that attended the event wished BiHAMK success in the future and they expressed hope that its activities will contribute to the overall road safety in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

About European Road Safety Charter

The European Commission is playing a major role in the European-wide effort to make roads in Europe safer. The European Road Safety Charter is one of many initiatives drawn up by the European Commission in response to a serious problem: the loss of over 50 000 lives through road traffic accidents across the European Union member states per year. The European Road Safety Charter is intended to save 25,000 lives a year by 2010 and represents a new phase in the European Union’s commitment to road safety. The European Road Safety Charter was created in January 2004. European Road Safety Charter offers European recognition to the associations that have signed up, and also makes the road safety actions they wish to carry out more visible on a European level.