Geographic Focus: Signatory states to the TRACECA Multi-Lateral Agreement

Project Budget : EURO 1,050,000

Contractor : AXIS

Implementation timetable : 12 months

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Background and Objectives. At a Presidential Summit on the "Restoration of the Historic Silk Route" in Baku on September 7-8, 1998 a "Basic Multi-Lateral Agreement (MLA) on International Transport for the Development of the Transport Corridor Europe - Caucasus - Asia" was signed by the Heads of Delegations of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Romania, Tadjikistan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, as well as Technical Annexes to the Basic Agreement on : · international rail transport; · international road transport; · international commercial maritime navigation; · customs procedures and documentation handling.

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 and 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.

In order to administer and promote the Basic Agreement and its Technical Annexes, an Inter-Governmental Joint Commission (IGJC) was established, with technical assistance of Tacis. While the principal role of the IGJC is to administer the MLA, it shall increasingly serve as a regional consultative body for trade and transport issues. The opportunity was taken to create parallel National Facilitation Commissions (referred to below as "National Commissions") in each of the participating states to reinforce the work of the IGJC at a local level and to facilitate local consultation. An administrative secretariat with representation in each participating state at a high level in government was created too. The Inter-Governmental Joint Commission comprises the Main Committee and specialised Working Groups for the Technical Annexes on road, rail, maritime and customs issues.

The present project will continue the work done under the project with the same title, done under the TRACECA 1998/99 budget. The objective of the consulting mission defined in this fiche is to continue supporting the activities of the IGJC for another year, with emphasis on : · continued attempts to make Turkmenistan adhere to the MLA; · further implementation of the MLA, by elimination of persisting non-physical bottlenecks, such as harmonisation and informatisation of customs procedures and documentation handling at border crossings; · preparation of the agenda of meetings of the IGJC; · assistance in the programming and follow-up of TRACECA projects, initiated by the Signatories of the MLA and funded by Tacis; · support of the Permanent Secretariat in Baku.on a day-to-day basis

Key Issues. In accordance with the MLA, the IGJC shall :

• regulate all questions concerning implementation and application of the framework agreement and its technical annexes;
• regulate the conditions of access to the transport market for each mode of transport except air transport with particular emphasis on user charges;
• regulate conditions for carrying out specific categories of traffic such as dangerous goods and perishable goods movement;
• develop a data bank of information on national and international transport legislation and transport policy and management and make this information available to participating states;
• develop effective links with other international organisations such as the UN-ECE, the European Union, the IRU, FIATA etc.;
• promote the development of multi-modal transport infrastructure links and services in the region;
• promote the development of modern freight forwarding and transport insurance services in the region;
• attempt to implement common customs and documentation procedures in the region;
• attempt to co-ordinate the development of transport policy in the region;
• attempt to develop a common transport policy towards third countries not participating in the agreement;
• attempt to develop a common legislative framework for trade, Customs and transport in the region;
• attempt to co-ordinate the enforcement of laws in the region;
• attempt to co-ordinate the ratification of international trade, Customs and transport conventions and agreements in the region;
• provide a forum for regional consultation between government officials and Trade Association representatives of carriers, forwarders, transport insurers, banks and other relevant representatives The role of the consultant for this project will be to provide continued organisational support to further develop the Joint Commission, and to provide expert professional assistance in the domain, including programming and follow-up of TRACECA projects, initiated by the Signatory States of the MLA and funded by Tacis

Latest updated version February 2000