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UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (UNECE)

Learn about UNECE's vital role in railway cooperation, from intermodal transport to border controls harmonization. Explore their activities and impact on international rail transport law. Discover more here!

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UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (UNECE)

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  1. UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (UNECE) SIAFInternational Interactive Session on International Railway Activities Railway Cooperation: The role of UNECE Martin M. Magold Sustainable Transport Section Transport Division International Union of Railways (UIC) 26 April 2010

  2. UNECE: Role and functions5UN Regional Commissions ECE ESCWA ESCAP ECA ECLAC 2

  3. UNECE: Role and functionsFeatures • Regional arm of the United Nations • Inter-governmental organization • Cooperation with NGO’s and private sector • Areas of work: • Trade facilitation and statistics • Regional cooperation and integration • Energy • Environment • Transport (road, rail, inland water) 3

  4. UNECE: Role and functionsGovernmental Structure Inland Transport Committee Working Party on Intermodal Transport and Logistics (WP.24) Working Party on Rail Transport (SC.2) EC, OTIF, OSJD, UIC,CIT, ERA … EC, OTIF, UIC, CIT, UIRR, EIA, BIC, IRU, IMMTA … 4

  5. UNECE: Role and functionsHow do we work ? • Work procedures • Multilateral treaties • (conventions, agreements, protocols, etc.) • Resolutions, recommendations and model actions • (soft law, guidelines, etc.) • Exchange of best practices and peer reviews • (Governments, industry, civil society) • Technical cooperation and capacity building • (Projects, seminars, workshops, etc.) 5

  6. UNECE: Role and functionsExamples of activities European E-Roads Customs transit system Transport of dangerous goods CMR Convention Vienna Convention Green Card Motor Vehicle Insurance System International Driving Licence Vienna Convention E2 World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29)

  7. International Rail CooperationMultilateral treaties • Transport of dangerous goods (RID) • Pan-European rail infrastructure network (AGC) • Pan-European combined transport services (AGTC) • Harmonization of border controls (interoperability) • Unification of international rail transport law (under preparation) 7

  8. Currently implemented worldwide International Rail CooperationTransport of dangerous goods ECOSOC Committee of Experts TDG and GHS UNECE secretariat TDG Sub-Committee GHS Sub-Committee IAEA Radioactive UN Model Regulations GHS Air ICAO Sea IMDG IMO Inland transport UNECE RID ADR ADN COTIF Appendix C European Union Directive 2008/68/EC National legislation 8

  9. International Rail CooperationTransport of dangerous goods Road: ADR (46 States) In force since 1968 Rail: RID*(43 States) In force since 2009 * In cooperation with OCTI Waterways: ADN (12 States) In force since 2008

  10. International Rail CooperationRail and combined transport networks (AGC+AGTC) 10

  11. International Rail CooperationRail and combined transport networks (AGC+AGTC) AGC/AGTC Minimum Standards and Target Values 11

  12. International Rail CooperationCombined transport network (AGTC) AGTC Minimum Standards and Target Values 12

  13. International Rail CooperationMonitoring of AGC+AGTC standards Railway Line C-E 20: Dover (UK) – Vostochnaya (RF) AGTC standard: Authorized length of train: min. 750 m 750 m Example 13

  14. International Rail CooperationHarmonization of border controls (interoperability) International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods (1982) • Inter-governmental framework for border controls • National coordination and cooperation • International coordination and cooperation • All border control agencies • All modes of land transport (road, rail, IWT) • 54 Contracting States, incl. EU 15

  15. International Rail CooperationHarmonization of border controls (interoperability) International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods (1982) • 8 Annexes in force • Customs controls, • medico-sanitary, veterinary phytosanitary inspections, • control of compliance of quality and technical standards for cargo • transit arrangements • Road transport (visa, technical inspection, etc.) (since 2008) • 1 Annex on rail transport (under consideration) • Adoption in 2010 ? - Entry into force in 2011 ? 16

  16. International Rail CooperationHarmonization of border controls (interoperability) International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods (1982) Draft Annex on rail transport • Visa procedures (train crews, border personnel, etc.) • Border and control infrastructure and facilities • Cooperation of inspection personnel • Coordinated inspection mechanisms • Acceptable time limits and delays • Documentation (incl. CIM/SMGS consignment note) 17

  17. International Rail CooperationHarmonization of border controls (interoperability) Bulgaria-Serbia: Rail Border Agreement (2006) (Dimitrovgrad-Dragoman) Border delay (minutes) 18

  18. International Rail CooperationUniform rail transport law SMGS/SMPS Eurasian uniform Rail Transport Law COTIF

  19. CIM Consensual contract Contractual freedom Consignment note in the competence of RUs Joint + several liability SMGS Formal contract Obligation to establish tariffs and to carry Consignment note regulated in SMGS Singular liability International Rail CooperationUniform rail transport law Differences in international rail transport law

  20. OTIF Intergovernmental Organization for International Carriage of Rail Bern Since 1890 42 member States only States Decisions: Majority German/French/English OSJD Organization for Co-operation between Railways Warsaw Since 1956 27 member States States and railways Decisions: Unanimity Russian and Chinese International Rail CooperationUniform rail transport law Differences in institutional arrangements

  21. International Rail CooperationUniform rail transport law • 2005: UNECE Working Party on Intermodal Transport and Logistics (WP.24) • Strategic elements for efficient East-West rail transport • 2006: UNECE Inland Transport Committee (ITC) • Remove obstacles for pan-European rail interoperability • Establish level playing field on East-West rail corridors • Initiate discussions/negotiations towards unfied rail law • Support CIT/OSJD on CIM/SMGS consignment note as short term measure • 2010: UNECE Expert Group on Unified Railway Law • 1. session: Geneva, 26 March 2010 • Harmonized operational rules (infrastructure access, cross-acceptance) • Harmonized civil liability rules (railways-shippers-freight forwarders) • 2. session: St. Petersburg, 8 July 2010 • Concept note by 2011 22

  22. International Rail CooperationUniform rail transport law • UNECE supports CIT and OSJD • on use of CIM/SMGS consignment note • as short-term measure • Land bridge between Europe and Asia (Mongolia-China-Pakistan) • Rail link Istanbul-Tehran-Almaty • Transit via Mongolia • Rail corridors to Central Asia (Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan) • Trans-Siberian railway line • North-South rail corridors via Russian Federation

  23. International Rail CooperationTechnical cooperation 24

  24. International Rail CooperationTechnical cooperation Objectives of TER • Coherent and efficient rail and combined transport system in TER region • Improved efficiency and quality of rail services • Improved environmental foot-print Outputs • TER Master Plan • identification of backbone network • investment priorities • inventory of border-crossing problems • Recommendations • Capacity building activities 25

  25. International Rail CooperationCapacity building Peer Reviews • Government to Government • Objective: • Improve policy making • Review administrative procedures • Adopt best practices • Establish high policy standards • Support compliance measures • UNECE acts as facilitator 26

  26. United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeObjectives and mission • UNECE objectives • Inland transport (road, rail, inland water transport) • Facilitate international movement of persons and goods • Improve safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency and security • Contribute to sustainable development • UNECE mission • Bridge between EU and «other» Europe, Central Asia + Caucasus • Link-up with other regions as part of UN (Regional Commissions) • Set up harmonied global and/or pan-European framework conditions and standards for Governments and industry • Provide platform for exchange of policies and best practices • Assist in capacity building for «transition» economies • Ensure level playing field among land transport modes 27

  27. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Palais des Nations, Geneva (Switzerland)

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