The Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications and its Permanent Secretary Harri Pursiainen have won this year's eSafety Award.
The award was given in recognition of Finland's National Strategy for Intelligent Transport, drafted by Mr Pursiainen as rapporteur. Finland was the first country in the world to publish such a strategy. The award also recognises the active input that Finland and the Ministry of Transport and Communications have provided into the cooperation between public authorities and the development of ITS systems.
The Government issued a resolution on the Strategy for Intelligent Transport in April. The Strategy outlines a new way of thinking in transport policy and places a special emphasis on intelligent transport. These were important reasons behind receiving the award. Finland has also been active in developing intelligent transport systems, such as the eCall, an automatic emergency call system.
The Ministry of Transport and Communications and Permanent Secretary Harri Pursiainen received the award at the eSafety Forum held in Brussels on 13 October.
'Intelligent transport will have a growing importance in European transport policy in the coming years. It is delightful and encouraging to see Finland rewarded for its forward-looking work', said Harri Pursiainen, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
This year's winner of the second category, the Technology Award, was car navigation systems provider TomTom.
This is the fourth time the awards have been given. Earlier winners of the Policy Award include the German Ministry of Transport and the Swedish Road Administration.
The eSafety Forum is organised by ERTICO, a cooperation body for public authorities and private players in the field of intelligent transport. It was founded by the Commission of the European Union, Ministries of Transport of the Member States, and European businesses. ERTICO's mission is to serve as a link between the industry, infrastructure operators, transport users, and national actors coordinating issues related to intelligent transport.
Further information: Mr Seppo Öörni, Senior Adviser, tel. +358 9 160 28545, +358 40 577 1179
