The European Union and its Member States have endorsed the Progress Declaration adopted at the UN High-Level Meeting on Improving Global Road Safety on 20 July 2026 in New York, reaffirming their commitment to the global target of halving road traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. In a statement delivered on behalf of the EU and its Member States, the bloc stressed that road traffic accidents remain one of the leading causes of death among children and young adults worldwide, disproportionately affecting vulnerable road users and low- and middle-income countries, and called for comprehensive action integrating safer infrastructure, high vehicle safety standards, speed management, enforcement, post-accident care and evidence-based policymaking.
The statement, issued by the Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations in New York, thanked the President of the General Assembly for convening the meeting and the co-facilitators—the Permanent Representatives of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Slovak Republic—for guiding negotiations toward a consensus-based declaration. The EU underlined that road safety is a shared responsibility requiring cooperation among governments, local authorities, civil society, the private sector, academia and international organisations. It committed to strengthening cooperation with the UN, the World Health Organization, UN Regional Commissions and other partners to promote global road safety standards and support capacity-building.
Through its Global Gateway strategy and other international partnerships, the EU supports sustainable transport infrastructure that integrates road safety from the earliest planning and design stages, and invests in technical assistance, institutional capacity-building and knowledge exchange. The statement also highlighted opportunities from innovation and digital transformation—connected mobility, intelligent transport systems, artificial intelligence and better data use—while cautioning that technology must complement, not replace, strong institutions, sound legislation and responsible road-user behaviour. Particular attention was called for vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
The EU's endorsement carries no new financial commitments or legislative measures but reinforces its political backing for the global road safety agenda. The declaration is non-binding, and the impact depends on national implementation. Stakeholders most affected include national transport authorities in EU and partner countries, who will need to align policies with the declaration's goals; road users, especially vulnerable groups, who stand to benefit from safer infrastructure and vehicle standards; the automotive and infrastructure industries, which may face new safety requirements and investment opportunities; and international organisations like the WHO and UN regional commissions, which will coordinate capacity-building and monitoring. The EU's statement does not introduce new EU-level rules but signals continued diplomatic engagement and potential future funding under Global Gateway.