Network of National ITS Associations meeting in Prague

Date: 23 March 2005

The ERTICO-initiated Network of National ITS Associations held its meeting in Prague, Czech Republic on 21 March. It was hosted by member ITS&S Czech Republic, on the occastion of that organisation’s “ITS’05 in Prague” conference.

The meeting joined representatives of ITS associations from 14 different countries – including Russia and Slovakia. It was announced at the meeting that ITS Slovakia will become an official member of the Network, bringing up the total of members to 17 organisations.

ITS Network Chairman Christer Karlsson of ITS Sweden led the meeting, and ERTICO CEO Olivier Mossé was on hand to provide more information about the ERTICO vision and strategy. A good part of the meeting was devoted to a round-table discussion which allowed members to learn more about each other’s key news and activities. With so many different organisations present, members could learn about the diverse initiatives of their sister organsiations, but also compare similar issues and successes.

At the Network’s launch last October, members agreed to feature one particular topic at their meetings. In Prague, the focus of discussion was training and education. Members of the EC-funded ETNITE project – in which ERTICO is also a participant – were on hand for a Workshop, agreed by the consortium, to introduce the project - which centres around improving the scope and quality of ITS training in Europe. The Workshop was a follow-up to a similar event in Vienna in February. ETNITE hopes to involve the ITS Network in its activities and build a close cooperation in order the further its objective.

The Network plans to meet again 10-11 October at a yet to be confirmed location. 

For more information, visit www.itsnetwork.org