On Tuesday 24 July, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, received a delegation from the FIA which included Jean Todt, President of the FIA, Carlos Barbosa, Vice-President of the FIA and President of the Automovel Club de Portugal (ACP), and the Director General of the FIA bureau in Brussels, Jacob Bangsgaard.

On the occasion of this cordial meeting, Jean Todt set out to the President of the European Commission the FIA’s objectives with regard to both sport and mobility, mentioning in particular issues relating to road safety, environmental protection, the defence of motorists and the drawing up of a European sports policy.

José-Manuel Barroso noted the convergence of views on the question of road safety and was pleased to see the FIA so committed on this subject, notably through its ‘Action for Road Safety’ campaign. This initiative complements the European Commission’s undertaking set out in its 2011 communication: “Towards a European road safety area: policy orientations on road safety 2011-2020”.

It was established that there is a mutual desire to strengthen the links between the European Commission and the FIA. This could come about through the FIA’s taking part in working groups; for example the FIA could be granted the status of observer within the group of experts on European policy in matters relating to sport.

Lastly, in the medical field, Jean Todt reminded the President of the European Commission that the FIA, through its foundation, supports medical research centres such as the Brain and Spine Institute [Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM)] which works on treating among other things degenerative diseases of the brain – a field in which the European Commission also has an active role.