In advanced economies, the ability to travel freely and easily is taken for granted. However, this freedom is underpinned by the long history and ongoing efforts over many decades to build roads, highways and rail tracks. To develop aviation and make it affordable. But also to establish the legal and political frameworks needed for the frictionless movement of goods, people and ideas. Over the past seventy years, these efforts have laid the foundations for an increase in prosperity unequalled in human history.

But access to mass, unrestricted mobility is still far from universal. In parts of the world plagued by conflict — which now include the immediate frontiers of the European Union — travel can be difficult if not impossible. And in emerging economies it all too often remains impeded by a chronic lack of good infrastructure. This simple observation must be seen as a call to action. Looking beyond our geographical, cultural and political differences, I am convinced that mobility can be a bond that brings humanity together. But only if transport solutions are promoted and built with this goal in mind; if each actor — public, private and civil society —pulls in the same direction.

This is exactly the direction VINCI Concessions has always taken, at our humble level, with the resources and know-how we offer. We have formalised a set of ambitious actions that we roll out as concrete initiatives in the field, everywhere we operate and with all the resources at our disposal. They reflect our humanist values and are positive responses to today’s challenges. In all our spheres of responsibility, economic, social and environmental, we strive to set an example in everything we do as well as acting as a catalyst for new solutions to apply across our entire ecosystem, for the benefit of travellers, territories and partners.

Because, irrespective of any cyclical crises, the climate emergency is happening right now. We have to tackle this systemic threat by accelerating transition to decarbonized mobility via our investment in solar and green hydrogen energy sources. Taking action to preserve the planet also means taking action to protect its inhabitants, placing people at the centre of everything we do: working to help our customers and users, our employees, and the communities and areas where we operate. Without ever losing sight of our core function: the economic impact our activities have as sources of prosperity and as ways to meet as-yet unsatisfied demand for mobility in regions without transport links to the outside, or held back by saturation in their current transport systems. Backed by our duty to ensure the safety, security and resilience of the high-value assets that our infrastructures represent for future generations. And driven by a ceaseless quest for innovations that will improve travel, from freeflow highways and biometrics, to predictive maintenance and all the new possibilities offered by digital technologies.

These are the decisive areas where VINCI Concessions is bringing progress, drawing on the values of the VINCI Group. There is no need to tear down all the borders, physical or metaphorical; they simply have to be opened so that mobility can be a vehicle for progress, peace and prosperity. For decades to come. And for the good of all humanity.

Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions & President of VINCI Airports