IRU Road Transport Indices forecast a flat growth of GDP and transported tonnes and a reluctance from transport operators to invest in new vehicles, particularly in the EU.

Geneva - The IRU Road Transport Indices, an online data source of GDP growth, road freight transport volumes and new vehicle registrations in 51 countries* forecast flat economic growth in GDP and transported tonnes until the end of 2010, which is likely to deter EU transport operators from investing in new vehicles. 

Speaking on the occasion of April 8th, International Day of the Roma, German GUE/NGL MEP Cornelia Ernst recalled that in many EU Member States, Roma are subjected to many forms of discrimination in the labour market and in access to social services, education and housing. 

"The Roma are the largest ethnic minority in the EU - and also one of the poorest and fastest-growing groups" she said. “They are a central part of Europe's cultural heritage but deep-seated prejudices against Roma remain difficult to combat.”

Competitive Dialogue was created by the 2004 Public Procurement Directives as a new and more flexible solution for public authorities wanting to award contracts for complex infrastructure projects”. But, says Michael Burnett, PPP expert at the European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA), “not all methods of using it have proved to be equally effective in promoting value for money for the public sector”. And, he continues, “objective advice for public sector decision makers on when and how to use Competitive Dialogue effectively is hard to find”.