27 – 29 May | Bratislava, Solvakia – The International Road Federation (IRF) participated at the 53rd ASECAP Days in Bratislava, Slovakia, with IRF President Dimitrios Mandalozis and Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick contributing to discussions on the future of Europe’s road infrastructure and mobility systems.

Hosted by Slovakia’s national motorway company, Národná Diaľničná Spoločnosť, ASECAP Days 2026 brought together leaders from across the transport ecosystem to examine how Europe can strengthen the resilience of its road infrastructure in the face of climate change, geopolitical pressures and rising mobility demands. This year’s discussions place particular emphasis on targeted investments, sustainable financing mechanisms and strategies to modernise transport networks while advancing the European Union’s objectives of secure mobility and decarbonisation.

Set against the backdrop of Bratislava, the conference provided an important platform for collaboration among toll road operators, concessionaires, policymakers, technology providers and infrastructure experts.

Speaking during the opening plenary, President Mandalozis underscored the strategic importance of roads to Europe’s economic competitiveness and territorial cohesion. Highlighting that road transport continues to account for a significant share of inland freight movement across the European Union, he emphasised the importance of long-term investment frameworks, resilient infrastructure management and sustained partnerships to future-proof Europe’s transport systems. He also stressed the role of toll road operators and concessionaires in supporting innovation, maintaining strategic corridors and delivering customer-oriented infrastructure capable of meeting future mobility needs.

President Mandalozis further highlighted the need for smarter asset management, interoperable digital systems and stronger cooperation across the infrastructure lifecycle to ensure that Europe’s road networks remain resilient, sustainable and responsive to evolving challenges. His intervention also extended an invitation to participants to continue these conversations at the IRF 2026 Annual Conference in Geneva, where international stakeholders will gather to advance implementation pathways for the transport sector.

Meanwhile, Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick is presenting IRF’s work under the iEXODDUS project, showcasing how cooperative infrastructure can support the extension of Operational Design Domains (ODDs) for automated vehicles through digital twins, secure vehicle-to-everything (V2X) data and real-time decision support systems.

Her presentation explores how iEXODDUS is addressing one of the central constraints to large-scale deployment of Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM) which is the limited ability of automated vehicles to operate safely in complex and changing traffic environments. Through a combination of roadside sensing technologies, connected vehicle data, digital twin modelling and real-time decision support, the project aims to improve situational awareness, enhance road safety and enable more resilient and efficient traffic operations.

Kirkpatrick also highlighted how infrastructure-assisted perception and sensor fusion can support automated driving in challenging environments such as tunnels, road works zones and accident sites, while improving detection of vulnerable road users and enabling more proactive traffic management. With a strong focus on interoperability, cybersecurity and cross-border scalability, iEXODDUS contributes to shaping the next generation of connected and automated mobility systems across Europe.

IRF’s participation at ASECAP Days 2026 reflects its continued commitment to advancing dialogue on resilient, innovative and future-ready road infrastructure. By contributing perspectives on long-term investment, digital transformation and cooperative mobility systems, the Federation is helping ensure that Europe’s transport networks remain safe, interoperable and prepared for the challenges ahead.