1. UNITED NATIONS Konstantin Glukhenkiy Head of TIR Unit Transport Division United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Overview of main UNECE road transport facilitation instruments Seminar on Arab and International Road Transport Agreements Cairo, 25 and 26 October 2009

2. UNECE 2 The UNECE Set up in 1947 by the UN ECOSOCSet up in 1947 by the UN ECOSOC Original mandate: To assist reconstruction and the economic development of EuropeOriginal mandate: To assist reconstruction and the economic development of Europe Aim today: To develop economic activity and strengthen economic relations within the UNECE region and the rest of the worldAim today: To develop economic activity and strengthen economic relations within the UNECE region and the rest of the world UNECE one of the five regional UN commissionsUNECE one of the five regional UN commissions

3. UNECE 3 55 States Members, including all European States, CIS, USA and Canada55 States Members, including all European States, CIS, USA and Canada Neutral, Euro-Asian, Trans-AtlanticNeutral, Euro-Asian, Trans-Atlantic Intergovernmental cooperation in areas of economy, including TransportIntergovernmental cooperation in areas of economy, including Transport UNECE secretariat in Geneva: 200 peopleUNECE secretariat in Geneva: 200 people The UNECE

4. UNECE 4 Environment & Human SettlementsEnvironment & Human Settlements StatisticsStatistics Sustainable EnergySustainable Energy Trade & TimberTrade & Timber TransportTransport Technical CooperationTechnical Cooperation The UNECE

5. UNECE 5 Vital to trade and tourismVital to trade and tourism Essential to growth and competitiveness, reduces disparities among regionsEssential to growth and competitiveness, reduces disparities among regions International transport is a key to international trade, exports and imports, integrationInternational transport is a key to international trade, exports and imports, integration Requires intergovernmental cooperationRequires intergovernmental cooperation Transport: a strategic responsibility of Governments

6. UNECE 6 Pioneer in international transport cooperationPioneer in international transport cooperation Aim: facilitates international transport, Improves safety and environmentAim: facilitates international transport, Improves safety and environment Government transport expertsGovernment transport experts Stakeholders, governments and NGOsStakeholders, governments and NGOs Meets once a year, consensus decisionsMeets once a year, consensus decisions Secretariat: UNECE Transport DivisionSecretariat: UNECE Transport Division The UNECE Inland Transport Committee (ITC)

7. UNECE 7 56 Agreements and Conventions56 Agreements and Conventions –Legally binding –Concluded under UNECE auspices –Elaborated by consensus –UN Legal Procedures –Main text and one or several Annexes –Amended as the needs arise Recommendations, ResolutionsRecommendations, Resolutions Outcome of the Inland Transport Committee

8. UNECE 8 Open to all UN Member StatesOpen to all UN Member States Many non-ECE States are already PartiesMany non-ECE States are already Parties The UN Secretary-General is the DepositaryThe UN Secretary-General is the Depositary To become a Party, deposit an instrument with the S-G.To become a Party, deposit an instrument with the S-G. No accession feeNo accession fee Outcome of the Inland Transport Committee (2)

9. UNECE 9 International Infrastructure NetworksInternational Infrastructure Networks International Highway CodeInternational Highway Code Regulations for Safe and Clean VehiclesRegulations for Safe and Clean Vehicles Border Crossing FacilitationBorder Crossing Facilitation Rules for Safe Carriage of Dangerous GoodsRules for Safe Carriage of Dangerous Goods OthersOthers Main UNECE Agreements and Conventions on Transport

10. UNECE 10 Convention on Road Traffic, 1968 Objectives: To facilitate international road traffic, trade and tourism To facilitate international road traffic, trade and tourism To increase road safety To increase road safety Through internationally agreed traffic rules and the reciprocal recognition of documents issued in conformity with those rules (vehicle certificates and driving permits) Through internationally agreed traffic rules and the reciprocal recognition of documents issued in conformity with those rules (vehicle certificates and driving permits)

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12. UNECE 12 Convention on Road Signs and Signals, 1968 Objectives To facilitate international road traffic, trade and tourism To facilitate international road traffic, trade and tourism To increase road safety To increase road safety Through internationally agreed road traffic signs and signals (over 200 reference signs and signals) Through internationally agreed road traffic signs and signals (over 200 reference signs and signals)

13. UNECE 13 Road Signs: Examples

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15. UNECE 15 TIR Convention, 1975 Please see a presentation this afternoon!

16. UNECE 16 Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods, 1982 Objective To facilitate cross border transport of goods To facilitate cross border transport of goods Through nationally coordinated, internationally harmonized, shorter, reduced formalities and controls on goods at borders Through nationally coordinated, internationally harmonized, shorter, reduced formalities and controls on goods at bordersBenefits Shorter border delays and lower transport/trade costs Shorter border delays and lower transport/trade costs Lower border operating costs for State budget Lower border operating costs for State budget More efficient investments in border facilities More efficient investments in border facilities

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18. UNECE 18 Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Good by Road (CMR), 1956 Objectives To facilitate international road transport To facilitate international road transport Through a commonly agreed transport contract, including contract document and liabilities Through a commonly agreed transport contract, including contract document and liabilitiesBenefits Fair competition between carriers Fair competition between carriers Lower international road transport costs, including insurance costs Lower international road transport costs, including insurance costs

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20. UNECE 20 Customs Conventions on Temporary Importation of Private/Commercial Road Vehicles (1954 and 1956) Objective To facilitate temporary admission of road vehicles registered in another country To facilitate temporary admission of road vehicles registered in another country Through agreed procedures and in cooperation with road users associations, AIT/FIA Through agreed procedures and in cooperation with road users associations, AIT/FIABenefits Internationally agreed procedure Internationally agreed procedure No payment of vehicle import taxes No payment of vehicle import taxes Shorter border delays, lower travel costs Shorter border delays, lower travel costs

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22. UNECE 22 Customs Convention on Containers, 1972 Objective To facilitate the temporary admission in a country of containers registered in another country by deferring payment of taxes and duties To facilitate the temporary admission in a country of containers registered in another country by deferring payment of taxes and dutiesBenefits Minimum border procedures, Deferred payment of Customs taxes and duties Minimum border procedures, Deferred payment of Customs taxes and duties Recovery of Customs duties if no re-export Recovery of Customs duties if no re-export Facilitated international goods transport Facilitated international goods transport

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24. UNECE 24 Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be used for such Carriage (ATP), 1970 Objectives To facilitate international transport of perishable foodstuffs To facilitate international transport of perishable foodstuffs To ensure a high level of preservation of quality of perishable foodstuffs during their carriage To ensure a high level of preservation of quality of perishable foodstuffs during their carriageBenefits Preserved quality of foods during carriage avoids refusal at borders, diseases Preserved quality of foods during carriage avoids refusal at borders, diseases Trade of perishable foodstuffs is facilitated Trade of perishable foodstuffs is facilitated

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26. UNECE 26 European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), 1957 Objectives To increase safety of international road transport To increase safety of international road transport To ensure the highest possible safety in the transport of dangerous goods by road in economically sustainable conditions To ensure the highest possible safety in the transport of dangerous goods by road in economically sustainable conditionsBenefits High level of safety and security High level of safety and security Mutual recognition of certificates Mutual recognition of certificates Facilitated transport and trade of dangerous goods Facilitated transport and trade of dangerous goods Harmonization with other transport mode regulations (sea, air, rail, inland waterways) Harmonization with other transport mode regulations (sea, air, rail, inland waterways) Possibility of use for national regulations Possibility of use for national regulations

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28. UNECE 28 About Implementation International Conventions on transport can yield substantial benefits to Member States International Conventions on transport can yield substantial benefits to Member States For this to happen, they must be fully and effectively implemented For this to happen, they must be fully and effectively implemented Implementation is the responsibility of Contracting Parties Implementation is the responsibility of Contracting Parties Within its limited resources, UNECE: Within its limited resources, UNECE: – Promotes accession and implementation – Provides technical assistance and advise in ECE – Monitors implementation (whenever possible)

29. UNECE 29 http://www.unece.org