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Improvement of the International Transport Corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia is the primary aim of the future of TRACECA

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:42:00 +0200

Three (3) technical assistance Projects: “Transport Dialogue and Network Interoperability” (IDEA II), the Regional Project “Logistical processes and Motorways of the Sea” (LOGMOS) and the Project for the safety of the motorways of the sea “Maritime Safety and Security II” (TRACECAMAR) submitted a short review of the current activities, forecasts based on the application of the regional network concept within the framework of TRACECA (TEN-T Model) and envisaged results with the view of increasing the efficiency of the corridor development. Taking into account the main TRACECA routes and a conceptual approach regarding trade facilitation, the European Commission suggests the planning methodology of consistent extension of the Trans-European transport networks featuring a dual layer network structure, comprising a comprehensive and a core network. Not the least of the factors is the application of the best practices and the experience of countries by implementing European Standards e.g. in the field of border management and improvement of transport infrastructure.
Further capacity building, legal approximation, communication with IFIs, application of the TRACECA tool box and alike (models, multi-criteria, analysis, communications, information systems, master-plan, TRACECA Campus, etc.) serve the main purpose – the improvement of the corridor and its integration with the world transport system. In view of the progress it is necessary to develop the existing potential of the TRACECA region by means of realization of the strategic objectives: intensive development of the routes, passing through the TRACECA countries, creation of the transport chains within the corridor system for the near future, continuous logistic chains and effective multimodal transport. Therefore, the issues of coordination and consistency of actions of the Parties in elaborating transport policies, mutually beneficial tariff conditions in certain routes, prices, quality and reliability of traffic, technical problems encountered in the process of traffic remain open for the realization and mutual solution. While considering the Action Plan for 2013-2015 the Parties arrived at a common view that at this phase of the TRACECA Strategy implementation it is needed to continue formation and development of the integrated network of logistic nodes, creation of attractive conditions for multi-modal and transit transport, including the improvement of infrastructure component of the corridor. This will allow diversification of international transport routes in the exiting severe competition. Particular attention was given to the issue of elaboration of the IGC TRACECA Strategy for development of the international transport corridor “Europe-the Caucasus-Asia” for the period 2016 – 2026, which in fact should determine the outlook of the future of TRACECA, subsequent policy of development taking into account the specific features of the transport infrastructure in each of the beneficiary countries of the EU-TRACECA projects. Of no small importance is the issue of regulation of freight carriage in direct international railway-ferry communication with participation of the ports, national railway and shipping companies, the Parties to the Basic Multilateral Agreement operating in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The signing of the “Technical Annex to the MLA on Fundamental Principles of Railway-Ferry Terminals Operation in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea” is scheduled for 18 September 2013, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, within the framework of the forthcoming Tenth Anniversary Meeting (Conference) of the IGC TRACECA.

Photos are available here: http://www.traceca-org.org/en/home/gallery/ps-meetings/kievukraine-16-april-2013/

Coordination meeting of European Commission, IGC TRACECA and TA Projects

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:58:00 +0200

Meeting of the Permanent Secretariat IGC TRACECA

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:43:00 +0200

TRACECAMAR “Maritime safety and security II” project was launched

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:19:00 +0100

Taking into consideration the results of SASEPOL I project, the current activities of the regional project will focus on specific requests to improve the maritime administrations of the beneficiary countries at the national level. Within the discussions on March 12, 2013 at the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA the parties exchanged views on issues of priority actions, including an efficient implementation of the flag state and port State safety and security of navigation, maritime pollution prevention and training. Mr. Albert Bergonzo, TRACECAMAR Team Leader informed that the project will contribute to the further alignment of the maritime safety and security legislation of the beneficiary countries with the relevant EU legislation in the field. In order to enhance regional cooperation, integration under the Strategy of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA and achieve the expected results in the course of project implementation, the parties emphasized the necessity of the work of the relevant sessions of regional working groups jointly organized by TRACECA Permanent Secretariat as well as the development and dissemination of annual work plans and the support of regional and national working groups. Mr. Eduard Biriucov, TRACECA Secretary General also mentioned that the project Terms of Reference and its key components should conform to the TRACECA Regional Action Strategy on Maritime Safety and Security and Environmental Protection for the period up to 2021. In this regard, Mr. Biriucov assured the project of support and assistance in the implementation of the action plan by the Turkish side presided in the RWG. It should be noted that the Regional Action Strategy on Maritime Safety, Security and Environmental protection has been approved at the Ninth Annual Meeting of the IGC TRACECA in Bucharest, November 24, 2011.

Discussions on the progress of the initiatives of the Chairman of the IGC TRACECA

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:47:00 +0100

The Parties mentioned the issues of further reform of the structures of the IGC TRACECA, institutional strengthening in the context of development of the international transport corridor "Europe-Caucasus-Asia". Particularly, they touched to the issue of the initiative of the Romanian side presiding in the IGC TRACECA on the establishment within the framework of TRACECA of an International Arbitration Court (arbitration tribunal) - (ICA). The competence of the ICA will include resolution of legal disputes between any of the legal entities and individuals, regardless of membership of the TRACECA member country in the field of transport. Within the discussion of the preparation of the next Tenth Anniversary Annual Conference, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in September, and the procedure of delegation the Chairmanship of Romania in the IGC TRACECA to the Republic of Tajikistan, the sides exchanged views on the priorities of cooperation, action plan on the implementation of the Strategy of the IGC TRACECA as well as the current plan of events for 2013. Mr. Biriucov noted that within the framework of the Anniversary Conference, the Permanent Secretariat in close cooperation with MLA TRACECA member-states and EU technical assistance projects is actively preparing for all problem and organizational issues. The Parties expressed mutual desire for further close cooperation.

Logistics and Maritime Shipping Training in Tbilisi on 10-12 April 2013

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 22:00:00 +0100

LOGMOS Project organised a three-day-training for transport, logistics, and shipping industry and public sector professionals, which took place on 10-12 April 2013 in Tbilisi. The objective of the seminar was to familiarize the participants with the European best practice and successful logistics and maritime concepts and their implementation in TRACECA.

The workshop was designed for young professionals and middle management of transport sector and logistics from TRACECA countries. The target audience was a new generation of transport professionals and active players of the corridor eager, willing and able to move TRACECA forward with help of new knowledge combined with practical experience.

In order to ensure participation of specialists best suited to the objectives of the event, as well as for the purposes of increased ownership and sustainability, a unique application process was organized, when participants had to justify their interest to attend the seminar by submitting a statement of purpose, CV and tailored application form and to present their plan on further dissemination of the acquired knowledge among their peers in TRACECA countries.

As a result, the LOGMOS team received a wide range of participant profiles covering logistics companies, shipping lines, transport operators, infrastructure companies for all transport modes, cargo owners, customs specialists, freight forwarders and public bodies responsible for transport – a group representing actors of a real supply chain. Furthermore, best students and professors of hosting institution in Georgia – Georgian Technical University – were invited.

Leading transport research and academic institutions of Europe, such as the University of Applied Science, Wildau (Germany) – a lead partner of EU Interreg- Flavia Project, dealing with improvement of intermodal logistics on corridor level, Hamburg University of Technology (Germany) – specialized Institute of Maritime Logistics and Institute of Business Logistics and General Management, delivered tailored lectures to the participants of the workshop. The Delegation of the European Union to Georgia delivered a speech in the opening session.

The seminar was split into three thematic modules, each of which covered a set of topics for defined target groups. During the first two days logistics (Module A) and maritime shipping (Module B) was taught in parallel in two groups. At the final day of the training both groups joined for a common session of Module C devoted to transport economics, case studies for PPP-schemes applied for logistics projects in TRACECA. Representative of logistics and maritime shipping industry active in the region of TRACECA presented their case studies on the last day of the event. The seminars were organised in an interactive manner with case study problem solving, and maritime management game.

The event provided a unique opportunity to establish cooperation with European academic institutions for Georgian counterparts, and received a positive feedback from its participants.

The LOGMOS project team greatly appreciates support from the Georgian Technical University, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and TRACECA National Secretariat in Georgia.

Any questions related to this training shall be addressed to LOGMOS team at logmos.egis-international@egis.fr and +380 44 288 08 92.

The negotiations resumed on accession of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the MLA TRACECA

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:18:00 +0100

This message was communicated by Mr. Eduard Biriucov, Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA, within the framework of an official visit of the delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan to the Headquarters of the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA on 7 February 2013. During the negotiations with Mr. Jawed Ludin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the exchange of views concerning the current status and instruments of accession of Afghanistan to the MLA TRACECA took place. Mr. E. Biriucov noted that as far back as 2006 all the TRACECA member states gave their consent to accession of Afghanistan to the MLA TRACECA and the official party of Afghanistan was informed about it. For the purpose of the MLA to come into effect for Afghanistan it is necessary that the Afghan party should deposit the ratification instrument to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. The Depositary has not yet received such ratification instrument from Afghanistan to date. Mr. J. Ludin expressed hope that the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA would assist in the acceleration of further discussion required for completion of the negotiations regarding the accession of Afghanistan to the MLA. The Parties assured each other in mutual striving for resolution of this matter within the shortest possible time with the view of putting it into the Agenda of the Anniversary Tenth Conference of the IGC TRACECA to be held on 17-20 September in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

LOGMOS Study Tour to Europe

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:53:00 +0100

The LOGMOS project is organizing a study tour for logistics and maritime sector stakeholders to take place on 24-28 June 2013 in Europe.

This training event will focus on state-of-the-art technologies and procedures in the field of maritime transport and logistics processes applicable for TRACECA.

Application process will be launched soon. The programme and other study tour documents will be soon available at LOGMOS TRACECA webpage.

Audit of 2013 confirmed the efficiency of execution system regarding the approved budget of the TRACECA member states

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:29:00 +0100

As a result of the audit held on 23-24 January there was established the correspondence between the expenditures and the budget for 2012 approved at the Ninth Annual Meeting by the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) TRACECA in Bucharest, Romania.

Annual audit confirmed the compliance of the activity of the Permanent Secretariat IGC TRACECA with international standards and general accounting principles of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards), validity and consistency of income and expenditures which evidences the successful operation of the management system, quality, efficient and economic execution of the PS budget.

The auditing team which carried out a budgetary review for 2012 financial year consisted of the representatives from the Republic of Moldova and the Republic of Tajikistan.

It should be noted that at the beginning of the financial year the auditing team conducts the financial audit of the PS budget execution in accordance with the Agreement on Joint Financing of the Permanent Secretariat IGC TRACECA between the Governments of the Parties to the MLA on international transport for development of the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia corridor of 21 April 2005, the Temporary Regulations for the Work of the Auditing Team of the PS IGC TRACECA of 2-3 May 2008 and the Final Resolutions of Annual Meetings of the IGC TRACECA.

On the outcomes of the audit there was signed the Annual Report to be submitted for consideration to the regular Meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

TRACECA Corridor Development is the Transport Policy Priority of Georgia

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 11:17:00 +0100

The Parties exchanged opinions and underlined the necessity to develop transit potential of the region, to increase the efficiency of the ITC TRACECA in international transport of goods, discussed the initiative of the Georgian Party on joint operation of railway-ferry terminals between the MLA Parties on the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Particularly it was mentioned that the draft Technical Annex (TA) to the MLA defining the introduction and application of a single waybill CIM/SMGS will allow of attracting additional freight flows to the TRACECA transport corridor. Moreover the project will make it possible to develop regular international direct railway-ferry connections between the ports of the MLA Parties (Romania, Turkey on the Black Sea and Iran on the Caspian Sea). During the discussion the Parties arrived at a common view on the necessity of further elaboration of the Intergovernmental Agreement to define the legal basis for the project implementation within the scope of the “Silk Wind”, technical specifications and the block-train multimodal route. It must be noted that the signing of the Inter-Ministerial Memorandum on the principles of joint activity on the development of transport networks and organization of cargo transportation within the scope of the “Silk Wind” Project was held on 28 November 2012, in Izmir with direct support of the Ministers of the participating countries. Its main objective is the provision of a full complex of logistic services in the countries situated along the route aiming at the facilitation and the rise of the TRACECA corridor potential as well as the increase of multimodal transport volumes in the region. One of the topical aspects of ensuring land transport security is the implementation of a TRACECA-IRU joint project “Model Highway Initiative”, including the Georgian section of the highway Baku-Tbilisi-Batumi-Trabzon. Mr. E. Biriucov underlined that at present “Model Highway” is one of the most promising projects. Taking into account the experience of Georgia concerning the simplification of border-crossing procedures, methods of step-by-step implementation and the outcomes of the initiative will serve as an example for consecutive reforms in other Eurasian countries with the view of developing transport connections.
Mister Kvirikashvili noted the significance and interest of Georgia in carrying out the initiative of the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA and IRU concerning the need to promote the development of digital maps of roads along the Europe-the Caucasus-Asia transport corridor. Joint Ad-hoc Working Group will work out its recommendations concerning the development of new digital maps and the extension of the existing ones by supplementing them with additional information on basic and auxiliary road infrastructure in the TRACECA participating countries. In the course of its activities the Ad-Hoc Working Group will define the Concept of a cartographic product integrated in global navigational systems and develop a draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the development of a full-fledged cartographic product “Digital Maps of TRACECA Roads”. Within the framework of the meetings there were underlined the main issues of implementation of the on-going and launching technical assistance EU-TRACECA projects, further improvement of the TRACECA corridor, as well as the Plan of Events for 2013 in the context of the forthcoming Anniversary Tenth Annual Conference to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.