In November 2020, CEDR and PIARC signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation and play to the respective strengths of the organisations. For the future, this could mean a collaboration on their respective research programmes (Collaborative Research for the CEDR, Special Projects for PIARC).

The CEDR is an organisation of European national road administrations that promotes Excellence in the Management of Roads. Its four main goals are helping National Road Administrations (NRA) to keep ahead of the curve, reinforcing NRAs role as key providers of efficient and seamless mobility from an end user perspective within the transport system, facilitating and optimising the efficient use of resources, making the best use of existing infrastructures, and lastly improving the safety and sustainability of roads.

At the virtual signing ceremony, CEDR’s Secretary General Steve Philips pointed out: “CEDR hugely values PIARC’s network of collaboration. Through PIARC, we have a ‘one-stop shop’ to the rest of the world with the ability to exchange with our regional partner associations, compare their experiences with ours in Europe and access some of the brightest brains in road infrastructure around the planet.”

PIARC Secretary General Patrick Malléjacq added: “We share information about each other’s projects and activities, to coordinate and to avoid overlap of activities. We establish joint projects, in some cases. For example, PIARC consulted CEDR when preparing its strategic plan, we work with the United Nations on road safety in Tanzania, etc.”

Since the creation of CEDR in the late 80’s they have always cooperated closely with PIARC, as the two organisations share many objectives. This is one of PIARC’s many partnerships with the so-called “regional road organisations” such as DIRCAIBEA in Latin America, AGEPAR in French speaking sub-Saharan Africa, and REAAA in Asia, or with international organisations such as the ITF OECD, the World Bank, etc.