On 23 October 2025, the Fédération Nationale des Transports Routiers (FNTR) and the European Secure Parking Organisation (ESPORG) co-hosted an insightful webinar, “Funding Opportunities for Safe and Secure Truck Parking Areas (SSPAs) in France.” The event brought together more than sixty representatives from transport companies, infrastructure developers, public authorities, and investors to discuss new avenues for developing certified, high-quality truck parking areas across the country.
The session was opened by Benjamin Joigneaux, President of FNTR’s Europe Committee, and Dirk Penasse, General Manager of ESPORG. They highlighted the shared commitment of the two organisations to strengthen driver safety and operational security through practical, long-term cooperation.
“At ESPORG, we have been working hard for 15 years to improve the security, service quality and connectivity of truck parking areas,” said Dirk Penasse. “We work hand in hand with European institutions and partners such as the FNTR. We can help design parking areas and build them to the appropriate safety standards, including technological issues such as access control and anti-intrusion measures. And finally, we can help with subsidies and financing.”
A Practical Session Focused on Funding and Implementation
Moderated by Frédéric Maas, ESPORG’s Senior Advisor for SSPA Financing, the 90-minute webinar offered practical guidance on how project promoters can access European and alternative funding mechanisms. The discussion explored the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), public-private partnerships, and complementary investment tools available to accelerate SSPA deployment.
Speakers from the two organsiations Walter Charpentier CEO of Transports TWV, Stéphane Djiane – CEO of SOFRAPARK and Virginie Stien – Director of NITI Park, each shared valuable lessons from managing secure parking sites in France. Their experiences illustrated that developing a certified SSPA can take three to five years, requiring persistence and close collaboration with authorities and financial partners.
From the public sector, Sylvie André of the French Ministry for Transport (DGITM – Infrastructures et mobilités) underlined the government’s role in facilitating projects that enhance the safety and working conditions of truck drivers.
As Dirk Penasse reminded participants, the 2025 CEF call has allocated nearly €91 million to safe and secure truck parking across ten EU Member States. Projects supported by ESPORG represent over 81 % of that total funding, reflecting the organisation’s leadership in helping stakeholders deliver high-standard, co-funded facilities.
The ESPORG–FNTR cooperation embodies a shared European ambition: improving road safety, driver well-being and transport security as essential priorities. With more certified SSPAs, both organisations aim to strengthen the entire logistics ecosystem—ensuring that transport operators have secure places to rest and that goods move safely across Europe.
