As we begin the New Year, I extend my warmest greetings to all who contribute to the work of PIARC — First Delegates, Technical Committee members, and the vibrant community of our National Committees. Your dedication and professionalism continue to strengthen PIARC’s role as a global leader in road and transport knowledge.

My own PIARC journey began in 2010, first by representing the First Delegate of Poland, then serving as a Technical Advisor at the General Secretariat, and today as the National Committees Representative. This long experience has shown me how crucial National Committees are in connecting international expertise with national implementation and in encouraging cooperation across borders.

The year 2026 will be especially significant. From 10–13 March, we will meet at the 17th World Congress on Road Winter Service, Resilience and Decarbonisation in Chambéry, held under the theme “Ensuring road excellence in all seasons.” For the first time, the Congress will jointly address winter service, resilience, and decarbonisation — three pillars essential to our current Strategic Plan and the future of global road networks.

We are also now midway through the work cycle of the Technical Committees, whose achievements will significantly enrich PIARC’s knowledge base. Our National Committees will share the results of their work broadly, making sure that important knowledge is accessible to professionals and policymakers across all member countries. This is a perfect moment to reinforce the involvement of our National Committees, especially by encouraging the participation of members who have been less active so far.

Looking ahead, our key challenges include accelerating knowledge exchange, strengthening the role of National Committees in the rapid dissemination of expertise, and incorporating artificial intelligence as a transformative tool for the entire road sector.

Thank you for your continued commitment. I wish all of us a productive and inspiring 2026 — a year of stronger cooperation, innovation, and shared success within the PIARC community.