International Road Federation (IRF) is a non-government, non-profit organization with the mission is to promote and modernize the development of road infrastructure.
Programs of the Brussels and Geneva IRF centers are focused on Europe as a part of the international programs of IRF, and in practice refer to the creation of a platform for roads, including the public and the private sector, for the purpose of integration with other initiatives for regional cooperation.
In organizing congresses for South-East Europe - Four SE Europe congresses have been organized until now.
The Third IRF Congress for SE Europe was held in Belgrade, organized by the Public Enterprise "Roads of Serbia" in September 2002, IRF is aiming at promoting cooperation between states and governments of the region which is of vital importance for the region.
In close coordination with major initiatives for reconstruction of SE Europe, IRF aims at directing the development towards better roads and road infrastructure, as an urgent pre-condition for economic development of countries of SE Europe.
The Public Enterprise "Roads of Serbia" is a standing member of the IRF.
One of the results of the good cooperation was the visit of IRF Director General, Mr. Anthony Pearce in March this year.
The conclusion of the meeting held during the visit indicates to the need for continued cooperation and active participation of Public Enterprise ‘’Roads of Serbia’’ in the activities of the Federation.
In this context, or delegation participated actively in the joint "1st Conference of the Black Sea Ring and the 4th Conference of the Silk Road" in Istanbul, 14th – 16th May 2007.
Our delegation has a marked presentation within the national presentations at the Conference.
The Istanbul Conference was held at the moment when Turkey became the presiding member of the Black Sea European Cooperation (BSEC), at the moment when the global interest in the Black Sea is increasing.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the International Road Federation (IRF) and the Organization of Black Sea European Cooperation (BSEC), in order to promote the Black Sea Ring Highway, was signed in November 2005 in Antalia, and it served as the starting point for this joint conference.
A special contribution of this Conference for Regional Cooperation referred to the integration of the Central Asia and Black Sea Regions, and this is visible in the adopted Declaration of the Conference.
The Black Sea Ring Highway, from the point of view of our country, is a continuation of the Corridor branch Xc (E - 80), Niš – Sofia, as a part of the TEN network (Trans European North - South Motorway) as it connects the countries of Western and Central Europe with Black Sea catchments area countries, Russia and countries of the Western Balkans, covering the political and economic space from the Adriatic to the Pacific.
The construction of branch Xc and the finalization of construction of the motorway from Burgas via Sofia to the Serbian border will provide a link with the Black Sea Ring Highway and with the countries of the Black Sea region.