The European Union Road Federation (ERF) and the International Road Federation (IRF) have announnced the advancement of their unification process, marking a decisive step toward the creation of a single, strengthened federation serving the road and mobility sector worldwide.
Following an overwhelming vote of support from ERF members, both organisations are now moving into the formal transition phase, with final ratification expected in May/June 2026 and full operational integration foreseen for 1 January 2027.
The unified structure will combine IRF’s international network with ERF’s established presence within the European policy ecosystem, bringing together complementary expertise in advocacy, technical excellence, research engagement and capacity-building.
The announcement comes at a time when road authorities, operators, manufacturers and policymakers are navigating profound transformation. Infrastructure networks are under increasing pressure to deliver higher safety performance, climate resilience, digital integration, financing innovation and geopolitical reliability.
A shared priority for both organisations is addressing the structural gap between the performance expected of modern road networks and the revenues available to sustain them.
As traditional fuel-based funding models erode, European and global road actors must collaborate on forward-looking pricing and funding frameworks capable of ensuring resilient, transparent and socially acceptable long-term network stewardship.
Dimitrios Mandalozis, President of the International Road Federation, welcomed the announcement as a significant moment for the international road community.
“Road infrastructure sits at the heart of economic competitiveness, social cohesion and territorial connectivity,” he said. “At a time of rapid technological change and mounting climate and investment pressures, stronger institutional coherence enables more effective collaboration.
“The unification of ERF and IRF reflects a shared commitment to serve road stakeholders with clarity of purpose and strategic stability. By aligning European and global capabilities within a single federation, we are creating a platform that can better anticipate challenges and support practical solutions across regions.”
Joseph Marra, President of ERF, said:
“This is a forward-looking decision shaped by the realities of our time,” said Joseph MaPresident of the European Union Road Federation. European road actors operate in an increasingly interconnected environment. By aligning ERF and IRF under a single, modernised framework, we are reinforcing Europe’s capacity to influence the global dialogue while maintaining the depth of engagement that characterises
our work in Brussels. Our working groups, technical dialogue and institutional relationships remain central to the structure we are building. What changes is our collective scale and reach.”
The transition phase will continue over the coming months in accordance with the jointlagreed roadmap. The organisations will maintain their respective activities during this period, while preparing the legal and governance framework required for final ratification. The unified entity will operate under the IRF name, with a reinforced European pillar dedicated to EU affairs and regional engagement.
(Picture: IRF/ERF)
