Following the 2026 CITA General Assembly, we are pleased to introduce Lotte Dijkink, Senior Adviser International Affairs at RDW, who was elected as a Regular Member of the CITA Permanent Bureau.
Lotte first joined the Bureau as an observer, succeeding Geert Konings following his retirement. Over the past year, she has gained valuable insight into the Bureau's work and the strategic challenges facing CITA. Her election as a Regular Member marks the beginning of a new chapter in her contribution to the organisation.
As part of our summer interview series, we asked Lotte to share her first impressions, priorities, and vision for the future of CITA.
1. You have recently been elected as a Regular Member of the CITA Permanent Bureau after serving as an observer for the past year. What motivated you to take on this role, and what are your first impressions of the work carried out by the Bureau?
Having served as an observer in the Bureau Permanent (BP) over the past year, I was motivated to strengthen CITA’s international cooperation and to actively support policy and technical developments that lead to safer vehicles and a cleaner environment. For me personally, joining CITA as a member of its BP means joining a community that believes that every life lost on the road is one too many. Being elected as Regular Member therefore feels both as a great honour and as a profound responsibility.
On behalf of RDW, I coordinate the negotiations for the EU Roadworthiness Package, acting as the liaison to both the Ministry and international stakeholders, including CITA. This role has provided me with valuable insight into both CITA’s activities and governance as well as a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities vehicle inspection is facing. Through RDW’s legal responsibilities across the vehicle chain, I have also developed a wider perspective that connects inspection with registration, type approval and relevant policy developments.
I believe I can bring a complementary profile to the BP. While many members have a strong technical background, my own experience is more that of a generalist, operating at the intersection of policy, regulation and stakeholder engagement. In addition, being based in RDW’s office in Brussels – just a stone’s throw away from the CITA office – allows me to stay closely connected and actively involved.
My first impressions of the BP are very positive. I am deeply impressed by the professionalism, expertise and collaborative spirit of its members. The BP can play a key role in shaping CITA’s strategic direction and ensuring that our collective know-how supports safer, cleaner and more sustainable mobility.
2. CITA plays an increasingly important role in representing the interests of the vehicle inspection community at European and international levels. From your perspective, where can CITA make the greatest impact over the coming years?
CITA is already highly influential at both EU and UNECE level, providing strong expertise and consistently ensuring that the role of PTI is recognised in policy and regulatory discussions.
Over the coming years, I believe CITA can make its greatest impact by promoting a more integrated view of the vehicle lifecycle. Type approval, registration, PTI and end-of-life management can no longer be treated as separate domains. They are becoming increasingly connected, particularly as more attention is given to vehicles once they are on the road. It is essential to ensure that vehicles remain safe, compliant and sustainable throughout their lifetime. This will become even more important as digitalisation, decarbonisation and artificial intelligence continue to reshape mobility. Since the vast majority of vehicles on Europe’s roads will remain in use for many years, the vehicle-in-use perspective is more relevant than ever. And because this is a global challenge, not just a European one, CITA is well positioned to support the exchange of knowledge and best practices between regions and jurisdictions worldwide.
I believe CITA can also play an important role in bridging the gaps between different policy areas and stakeholders, including the European Commission (in particular but not limited to DG MOVE, DG GROW and DG ENV), helping to create a more coherent and future-proof regulatory framework.
3. The revision of the EU Roadworthiness Package is one of the most significant legislative developments currently affecting our sector. What opportunities and challenges do you see for CITA and its members, and what do you believe should be the key priorities during the legislative process?
The revision of the Roadworthiness Package represents both a major opportunity and a significant challenge for CITA and its members. The legislative process is already well underway, and CITA has been actively engaged throughout, providing expertise at key moments and organising events and discussions to ensure that the voice of the PTI community is heard.
As the Council and the European Parliament work towards a final agreement on the proposals, it will remain important for CITA to advocate for a robust and future-proof framework that reflects technological developments while preserving the essential role of PTI in ensuring road safety and environmental compliance. At the same time, it is crucial that new requirements are not only ambitious, but also pragmatic and easy to implement for both public authorities and companies responsible for applying them in practice.
Looking ahead, I believe it is also important to prepare for the phase after the legislation is adopted. Many key aspects will be further defined through so-called implementing and delegated acts, including important topics such as data access. CITA and its members play a pivotal role in bringing their operational expertise to these forums and helping ensure that the new framework can be implemented effectively.
In my view, CITA should ultimately aim to remain a proactive and trusted partner for policymakers, both during the legislative process and throughout the subsequent implementation phase. And naturally, also act as a platform for exchange between its members when it is time to implement the roadworthiness package.
4. Looking ahead, are there any areas where you believe CITA could further strengthen its role or better support its members? If you could introduce one new initiative or improvement, what would it be?
CITA already does an excellent job representing its members and responding to ongoing policy developments. Looking ahead, I believe CITA could further strengthen its role by placing an even greater emphasis on strategic foresight and long-term priorities.
In a rapidly changing policy environment, it is important not only to react to legislative proposals as they emerge, but also to anticipate future developments and help shape the policy and legislative agendas at both the EU and global level. This means looking beyond the immediate horizon and identifying where the vehicle-in-use perspective should be positioned in future policy discussions.
If I were to suggest one area for improvement, it would be the introduction of a more structured process for developing long-term strategic objectives and key messages for policymakers. While the next European Commission may still seem some way off, this is the right moment for CITA to start shaping the priorities and core messages it would want to bring to the new Commission. By early preparation and taking a long-term view, CITA can strengthen its influence and ensure that the interests and expertise of its members are considered from the outset of future policy initiatives. With its broad expertise, committed membership and strong international network, I am confident that CITA is well equipped to take on this role successfully.
