Simplification of Simplification of Procedures For Procedures For Transporters and Transporters and Forwarders: View From Forwarders: View From the Private Sectorthe Private Sector

Alexandriopolis,2004 Alexandriopolis,2004

INTERNATIONAL ROAD INTERNATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORTTRANSPORT

cost-efficientcost-efficientflexibleflexible

unique convenience to unique convenience to door-to-door deliverydoor-to-door delivery

the heart of the the heart of the European economy European economy

serves as a bridge serves as a bridge between the business between the business

world and suppliers and world and suppliers and consumersconsumers

INTERNATIONAL ROAD INTERNATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORTTRANSPORT

In the EUROPEAN UNION

•76 % of goods purchased, sold, produced and traded are carried by ROAD

•while more than 45 % of the transport demand involves ROAD transport

IMPORTANCE OF ROAD IMPORTANCE OF ROAD TRANSPORTTRANSPORT

• MAJOR SECTOR IN NATIONAL ECONOMIES

• HIGH % OF NATIONAL GDP

MINIMIZING ADVERSE EFFECTS MINIMIZING ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ROAD TRANSPORTOF ROAD TRANSPORTTRANSPORT OPERATORS DO THEIR TRANSPORT OPERATORS DO THEIR

HOMEWORK !HOMEWORK !

Reducing accidents Reducing accidents

Reducing environmental damage Reducing environmental damage

Reducing fuel consumption Reducing fuel consumption

Increasing safety and efficiencyIncreasing safety and efficiency

Investing in technology and innovationInvesting in technology and innovation

EXISTING BARRIERS TO EXISTING BARRIERS TO INTERNATIONAL ROAD INTERNATIONAL ROAD

TRANSPORTTRANSPORT • Complex and time-consuming customs clearance and visa procedures• Approvals from several authorities are needed for obtaining required certificates and documents •Repetitive inspections (e.g. roadblocks)•Lack of transparency and barriers to access information

BARRIERS TO INTERNATIONAL BARRIERS TO INTERNATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORTROAD TRANSPORT

Imposition of such barriers by Imposition of such barriers by national authorities national authorities

≠≠Efforts laid down by the industry on Efforts laid down by the industry on

behalf of the international trade behalf of the international trade

WE ASK GOVERNMENTS TOWE ASK GOVERNMENTS TO

SOLVE problems related to border delays

TAKE MEASURES to adopt simplified and harmonised procedures on the basis of many existing UNECE Regulations and Conventions,

DECREASE number of authorities and

ENSURE flexibility in enforcement of international standards,

WE ASK GOVERNMENTS TOWE ASK GOVERNMENTS TO

INTRODUCE “one-stop” or “single window” technology,TRAIN border personnel and transport operators, INVEST in infrastructure, FACILITATE the issuance of annual and multi-entry visas to professional drivers, ensuring fair and efficient fiscal treatment of the road transport industry,

SIMPLIFICATION OF SIMPLIFICATION OF PROFESSIONAL VISA IN SECI PROFESSIONAL VISA IN SECI

REGIONREGION

BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS BY SECI MEMBER

STATES organising special desks

issuing 1-year multiple-entry visasfacilitation for frequent entries

acceptance of pre-determined documentsUse of intermediaries (eg; PRO

Committees)

SIMPLIFICATION OF VISA SIMPLIFICATION OF VISA - EXAMPLES -- EXAMPLES -

EXCHANGE OF LISTINGS OF PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS REGULARLY REQURING VISAS

TURKEY- BULGARIATURKEY- UKRAINE

TURKEY – ROMANIAListings are exchanged via diplomatic channelsDeposited to the relevant diplomatic missonPlans for a region-wide multilateral agreement

VISA OFFICEVISA OFFICE

Facilitates visa procedures for the industry professionals

Facilitates visa procedures for the society (UK Visas since 2003)

Visa facilitation for 10 countriesIn 2003 20.000 visas were provided

SIMPLIFICATION OF SIMPLIFICATION OF TRANSPORT PROCEDURESTRANSPORT PROCEDURES

SECI

BSEC

UNECE

ECMT

EU

IRU

TRACECA

PROJECTS ON FACILITATION OF PROJECTS ON FACILITATION OF TRANSPORTTRANSPORT

SECI TURK-PRO : International Vehicle Weight Certificate Facilitation of visa for professional drivers

BSEC : Agreement on Simplification of Visa Procedures for Lorry Drivers’ : Agreement on Simplification of Visa Procedures for Businessmen in the BSEC Member States

BSEC-URTA : International Vehicle Weight Certificate Facilitation of visa for professional drivers

TRACECA : TRACECA Visa : Harmonization of Border Crossing Procedures

IRU : Resolution on the issuance of visas to professional drivers

NEED FOR URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF “Memorandum of Understanding on the Facilitation of International Road Transport of Goods in the SECI Region “-

Article 10

INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE WEIGHT INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE WEIGHT CERTIFICATECERTIFICATE

SECI: 1999 Memorandum on the introduction of an International Vehicle Weight Certificate BSEC, SECI and CIS cooperate under the umbrella of UN/ECE with coordination of IRU

Aim : Single and one-off certification = uninterrupted flow of goods within SECI and beyond

INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE WEIGHT INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE WEIGHT CERTIFICATECERTIFICATE

NEW ANNEX 8 to 1982 Convention on Harmonization of Frontier

Controls of Goods

IVWC is included in the Annex !

38 contracting states including 15 EU Member countries

Recently , CIS STATES adopted the IVWC PROJECT !

KAPIKULE-KAPITAN ANDREEVO KAPIKULE-KAPITAN ANDREEVO ADVANCE INFORMATION RELAY ADVANCE INFORMATION RELAY

PROJECTPROJECT advance information through an on-line portal

truck information available when it arrives at the border

Memorandum of Understanding between the customs undersecretariats of Bulgaria and Turkey

2 proposals : 1- flow of data to be provided by Undersecretariat of Customs 2- direct access by companies

SINGLE WINDOW PAYMENTSINGLE WINDOW PAYMENT

TURK PRO and BUL PRO:

collection of various charges related to transport by one single body linking all relevant agencies through computerised information systems at Kapitan Andreevo - Kapikule border crossings

dedicated working groups and pilot projects by PRO Committees from ROMANIA, ALBANIA, CROATIA,MACEDONIA, GREECE AND SERBIA-MONTENEGRO

TRANSPORT INFORMATION TRANSPORT INFORMATION NETWORK –ULAŞNET (TURKEY)NETWORK –ULAŞNET (TURKEY)

UND – TURKISH MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT – TURKISH UNDERSECRETARIAT OF CUSTOMS

collect and record information on all drivers crossing 15 Turkish borders (data on load, company,driver,route)

facilitate and accelerate customs procedures

avoid unfair competition

UND-VIALTIS VAT RETURN UND-VIALTIS VAT RETURN SERVICESERVICE

international road transport operators the opportunity to reimburse huge amounts of foreign currency previously left abroad avoiding payment of very high commissions and unnecessary consultancy charges. Since January 2003, 250 member companies were reimbursed VAT returns amounting to over € 4.000.000 UND-ESSO Fuel Cards: discounts, electronic payment, express VAT collection by global receipts.

FACILITATION :UND VEHICLE FACILITATION :UND VEHICLE TRACKING AND FLEET TRACKING AND FLEET

MANAGEMENT SYSTEMMANAGEMENT SYSTEMDeveloped by UND

Based on GPRS technology

Used by transporters, forwarders and exporters

can determine the exact location of their vehicles on Internet and can control them

Drivers may send alarm messages

On-board communication units

Users can receive information on position, speed, petrol consumption, temperature

Becoming wide-spread (incorporated into contracts)

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

ENCOURAGING IMPROVEMENTSENCOURAGING IMPROVEMENTS

THANKS TOTHANKS TO

VALUABLE EFFORTS LAID BY GOVERNMENTS AND VALUABLE EFFORTS LAID BY GOVERNMENTS AND THE INDUSTRY TOWARDS FACILITATION OF THE INDUSTRY TOWARDS FACILITATION OF

TRANSPORT AND TRADE TRANSPORT AND TRADE

WE HAVE IMPORTANT TASKSWE HAVE IMPORTANT TASKS

We have to do a lot to We have to do a lot to move ahead if we aim move ahead if we aim an actual free an actual free movement of goods movement of goods and a TRUE and a TRUE GLOBALISATIONGLOBALISATION

LIBERALIZATION OF ROAD LIBERALIZATION OF ROAD TRANSPORT TRANSPORT

““any penalty on road any penalty on road transport is an transport is an

even bigger even bigger penalty on the penalty on the economy as a economy as a

whole”whole”

LIBERALIZATION OF ROAD LIBERALIZATION OF ROAD TRANSPORTTRANSPORT

““The longest The longest journeys start with journeys start with

a small step a small step forward”forward”

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCEPATIENCE