The World Council for Automobile Mobility and Tourism (WCAMT) met in Como on 21 May.
The FIA President, Jean Todt, thanked Enrico Gelpi, President of the Automobile Club of Italy, for his hospitality in hosting the first WCAMT since the election of his team.
The FIA Deputy President for Automobile Mobility and Tourism, Brian Gibbons, then opened the formal business of the meeting and the following decisions were taken.
DECADE OF ACTION FOR ROAD SAFETY
The FIA Foundation Chairman, Carlos Macaya, confirmed to the World Council that on March 2, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2011 - 2020 a Decade of Action for Road Safety. The UN decision follows a concerted campaign by the FIA and its members in partnership with the FIA Foundation through the Make Roads Safe initiative, and is a unique and unprecedented opportunity to achieve widespread recognition of the FIA’s leadership in road safety advocacy.
The WCAMT discussed a proposal for FIA engagement in the Decade of Action for Road Safety, agreeing that there is an opportunity to influence national governments to make the necessary policy changes, to advocate for safer roads and safer vehicles, and to educate motorists about safer behaviours. Engagement would further give the opportunity for the FIA’s work in sport to reach a new, broad, and diverse audience with road safety messages through sporting events and sport personalities, and allow both parts of the FIA to work together toward a goal that serves all the FIA’s constituencies.
It was proposed to develop a proposal for the FIA’s involvement in the official launch of the Decade of Action in 2011, with an action plan and communications plan, including opportunities for Club participation, and appropriate cooperation and coordination with the FIA’s partners: the FIA Foundation, the FIA Institute, iRAP, and eSafetyAware. This proposal will be reviewed by the two FIA World Councils in November.
The World Council unanimously approved the proposed plan for FIA engagement in the Decade of Action for Road Safety.
MOBILTIY BUSINESS PLAN
The FIA Deputy President, presented the Mobility Business Plan proposing key deliverables with measurable targets, clear lines of responsibility and accountability, and a firm timeline for achieving them. The Plan is intended to strengthen the Mobility Secretariat, execute the FIA’s Mobility for All public policy agenda, foster service facilitation and knowledge exchange among member clubs, identify innovative ways to help emerging clubs to grow and prosper, and increase synergies with the sporting arm of the FIA notably on safety and environmental issues.
The World Council unanimously endorsed the plan.
TOURISM STRATEGY
Within the overall vision and mission of the FIA, the following key areas of focus for the Travel and Tourism Commission were proposed:
To address travel and tourism issues of common interest and mutual benefit to members; to leverage strategic opportunities related to travel and tourism; and to contribute to the enhancement of responsible travel and tourism on a global basis.
An immediate priority will be to undertake a survey among the FIA membership to determine their key focus and activities. Based on the outcomes of the member survey and recommendations received, individuals and clubs will be identified and approached to champion the activities of the respective tourism work streams and special interest groups by the end of August 2010. The FIA team, in collaboration with the Chairman of the Travel and Tourism Commission and the respective champions for the work streams and special interest groups, will finalise the strategic and action plan, with a view to providing a progress report at the 2011 conference.
CUSTOMS DOCUMENTS
The World Council approved the proposals by the Customs Commission for revised editions of the FIA ‘Guide to International Driving Permits (IDP)’ as well as the ‘Carnet de Passage en Douane (CPD) Handbook’. The revisions will be published in June 2010. The IDP guide shows the models of these documents in use around the world. The CPD Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the carnet de passage system and includes the texts of the UN Customs Conventions under which the CPD is covered.
The FIA enjoys a consultative status with the United Nations and works actively with the UN Working Parties on Road Safety and Customs Questions to keep the international conventions up to date, thereby enhancing road safety and border crossing facilitation.
The next meeting of the WCMAT will take place alongside the World Motor Sport Council in November in Paris before the FIA General Assembly. The 2011 FIA Conference week will take place in Kula Lumpur at the end of March.
Como, Italy 21 May 2010