The Belgian EU presidency is to put road safety and cross border enforcement legislation high up on its agenda.

At the time of growing non-resident traffic, widening national automated safety camera networks and complex crossborder problems posed by offenders, it aims to find a solution to current agreements which are often unable to deal with the problem.

However, Belgium takes over the presidency with the new Lisbon Treaty in place, which will be important for finding a workable agreement on the cross border enforcement directive. Both the European Commission and the Belgian presidency are keen to make headway in finding agreement.

“Belgium has the chance to shine on the European road safety stage during its presidency,” said Martin van Houtte, executive director of the Belgian Road Safety Institute. “As well as showing strong leadership in forging ahead with cross border enforcement directive, in the case of drink driving, we can present to other member states how an integrated approach of enforcement and communication optimise the effect on safe behaviour.”