UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE UNECE SIAFInternational

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 UNECE Transport Division

UNECE: Role and functions 5 UN Regional Commissions ECE ESCWA ECA ESCAP ECLAC UNECE Transport Division 2

UNECE: Role and functions Features • • 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) UNECE Transport Division 3

UNECE: Role and functions Governmental 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 … UNECE Transport Division EC, OTIF, UIC, CIT, UIRR, EIA, BIC, IRU, IMMTA … 4

UNECE: Role and functions How 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. ) UNECE Transport Division 5

UNECE: Role and functions Examples of activities European E-Roads Customs transit system Transport of dangerous goods CMR Convention Vienna Convention Green Card Motor Vehicle Insurance System E 2 World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP. 29) International Driving Licence UNECE Transport Division Vienna Convention

International Rail Cooperation Multilateral 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) UNECE Transport Division 7

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

International Rail Cooperation Transport of dangerous goods Road: ADR (46 States) In force since 1968 Rail: RID* (43 States) In force since 2009 * In cooperation with OCTI UNECE Transport Division Waterways: ADN (12 States) In force since 2008

International Rail Cooperation Rail and combined transport networks (AGC+AGTC) UNECE Transport Division 10

International Rail Cooperation Rail and combined transport networks (AGC+AGTC) AGC/AGTC Minimum Standards and Target Values UNECE Transport Division 11

International Rail Cooperation Combined transport network (AGTC) AGTC Minimum Standards and Target Values UNECE Transport Division 12

International Rail Cooperation Monitoring of AGC+AGTC standards Railway Line C-E 20: Dover (UK) – Vostochnaya (RF) AGTC standard: Authorized length of train: min. 750 m m a Ex e pl UNECE Transport Division 13

International Rail Cooperation Harmonization 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 UNECE Transport Division 15

International Rail Cooperation Harmonization 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 ? UNECE Transport Division 16

International Rail Cooperation Harmonization 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) UNECE Transport Division 17

International Rail Cooperation Harmonization of border controls (interoperability) Bulgaria-Serbia: Rail Border Agreement (2006) (Dimitrovgrad-Dragoman) Border delay (minutes) UNECE Transport Division 18

International Rail Cooperation Uniform rail transport law SMGS/SMPS Eurasian uniform Rail Transport Law COTIF UNECE Transport Division

International Rail Cooperation Uniform rail transport law Differences in international rail transport law CIM SMGS • Consensual contract • Consignment note in the competence of RUs • Formal contract • Obligation to establish tariffs and to carry • Consignment note regulated in SMGS • Joint + several liability • Singular liability • Contractual freedom UNECE Transport Division

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

International Rail Cooperation Uniform 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 UNECE Transport Division 22

International Rail Cooperation Uniform 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 UNECE Transport Division

International Rail Cooperation Technical cooperation UNECE Transport Division 24

International Rail Cooperation Technical 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 UNECE Transport Division 25

International Rail Cooperation Capacity 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 UNECE Transport Division 26

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Objectives 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 UNECE Transport Division 27

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Palais des Nations, Geneva (Switzerland) UNECE Transport Division