25. INTER - GOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MULTI - LATERAL AGREEMENT ON TRANSPORT

Geographic Focus: Signatory States to the TRACECA Multi-Lateral Agreement (MLA)

Project Budget : EURO 1,100,000

Contractor : AXIS

Implementation timetable : 14 months

Background. On September 8, 1998 a Multi-Lateral Agreement (MLA) on International Transport was signed in Baku by 12 States : Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The MLA consists of the "Basic Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for the Development of the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia" and Technical Annexes on :

• international rail transport,
• international road transport,
• international commercial maritime navigation,
• customs procedures and documentation handling.(iv)

The goals of the Basic Agreement and its Technical Annexes are as follows:

• development of economic relations, trade and transport communication in Europe, the Black Sea region, the Caucasus, the Caspian Sea region and Asia;
• ensuring access to the world market of road, rail transport and commercial navigation;
• ensuring traffic security, cargo safety and environment protection;
• harmonisation of transport policy and legal structure in the field of transport;
• creation of equal conditions of competition for transport operations.

Objectives. The basic agreement calls for the establishment of an Intergovernmental Commission and Permanent Secretariat to administer and promote the agreement and its technical annexes. The permanent establishment of the secretariat should be conditional on the ratification of the agreement by sufficient states to give it realistic chances of success. So far, eight of the twelve signatory States have ratified the Agreement.

The objective of the present consultancy mission is to establish and to support the activities of such an Intergovernmental Commission and Permanent Secretariat for one year. The role of the Consultant for this project is to provide the initial organisational support to establish the Intergovernmental Commission and to provide expert professional assistance in the domain. A first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission is planned in March 2000.

This assignment will be followed by a similar 12 months project to ensure continuity.

Key Issues. According to the MLA, the IGC shall formulate decisions for adoption by
the contracting Parties and appropriate recommendations on questions within the Basic Agreement, including the following subjects :

• co-ordination of transport policies;
• ensuring the enforcement of the provisions of the Basic Agreement;
• collection and free exchange of relevant information;
• harmonious development of transport between the Parties, taking into account primarily traffic safety, goods security and environmental aspects involved;
• promotion of co-operation between transport enterprises and institutions;
• promotion of multi-modal transport;
• simplifying customs procedures and practices which are to be applied at established crossing points.

While the principal role of the Intergovernmental Commission will be to administer the basic agreement, it should also serve as a regional consultative body for trade and transport issues. The opportunity should be taken to create parallel National Facilitation Commissions in each of the participating states to reinforce the work of the Intergovernmental Commission at a local level and to facilitate local consultation.

The Intergovernmental Commission will require a permanent secretariat and also representation in each participating state at a high level in government. The Intergovernmental Commission will comprise the Chairmen of National Commissions and specialised Working Groups for the technical annexes on road, rail, maritime and customs issues.