Portugal's new-look road concessionaire

摘要

The national road agency (Estradas de Portugal or EP, EPE) was transformed into a state-owned public company, Estradas de Portugal, SA (EP, SA), and a new body, the Institute for Road Infrastructures (InIR), was created with public functions of regulation and supervision of road infrastructures.rnInIR is now the Portuguese national road authority, and aims to ensure greater transparency and cautioning in the relationship between the EP, SA and the state.rnEP, SA is just like a public limited company (plc), but the single shareholder is the Portuguese Republic, while InIR's main mission is to oversee the management and operation of the road network; to check the application of laws and regulations, the concession and sub-concession contracts, always having in mind the need to ensure the implementation of the National Road Plan, as well as ensure the efficiency, equity, quality and safety of the road infrastructures.