The UNECE has established 56 transport agreements and conventions which
are negotiated by government representatives and become legally binding for
countries which ratify or accede to them. These agreements and conventions
create international safety and environmental standards for transport, harmonize
national regulations, make border crossings less complicated, and provide
for the development of coherent infrastructure networks for road, rail and
inland waterway transport.
Legal instruments by category
Transport Infrastructures
The development of infrastructures leading to an integrated European
transport system is a major priority for the UNECE. The foundations have
been laid in three international agreements negotiated in the UNECE and
constantly kept under review. The European Agreement on Main International
Traffic Arteries (AGR) defines the "E" road network of routes
of strategic importance for international traffic flows and sets the standards
to which they should conform. The European Agreement on Main International
Railway Lines (AGC) identifies rail routes of international importance
and their technical characteristics. The encouragement of transport using
one type of equipment - container for example - but combining the advantages
of road, rail, inland waterway or maritime modes of transport is another
priority field of activity for the Committee. The European Agreement on
Important International Combined Transport Lines and Related Installations
(AGTC) creates a plan for the development of international combined transport
infrastructure and services on the basis of an international network and
generally accepted infrastructure and operational standards. The European
Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN) of
1996 is due to complete the range of international instruments dealing
with the development of transport infrastructure.
1. Declaration on the Construction of Main International Traffic Arteries,
of 16 September 1950
2. European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries (AGR), of
15 November 1975
3. European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC), of 31
May 1985
4. European Agreement on Important International Combined Transport Lines
and Related Installations (AGTC), of 1 February 1991
5. Protocol on Combined Transport on Inland Waterways to the European
Agreement on Important International Combined Transport Lines and Related
Installations (AGTC) of 1991, of 17 January 1997
6. European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance
(AGN), of 19 January 1996
Road Traffic and Road Signs and Signals
The UNECE drew up the worldwide Conventions on Road Traffic and on Road
Signs and Signals of 1968 and the European Agreements supplementing them.
7. Convention on Road Traffic, of 19 September 1949
8. Convention on Road Traffic, of 8 November 1968
9. Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, of 19 September 1949
10. Convention on Road Signs and Signals, of 8 November 1968
11. European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic (1968),
of 1 May 1971
12. European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and
Signals (1968), of 1 May 1971
13. European Agreement on the Application of Article 23 of the 1949 Convention
on Road Traffic concerning the Dimensions and Weights of Vehicles Permitted
to Travel on Certain Roads of the Contracting Parties, of 16 September
1950
14. European Agreement supplementing the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic
and the 1949 Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, of 16 September 1950
15. European Agreement on Road Markings, of 13 December 1957
16. Protocol and Road Markings, Additional to the European Agreement
supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, of 1 March 1973
17. Agreement on Minimum Requirements for the Issue and Validity of Driving
Permits (APC), of 1 April 1975
Road Vehicles
The Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Uniform Technical Prescriptions
for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or be
used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition
of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these Prescriptions, concluded on
20 March 1958 (see item 18 below), in short, the 1958 Agreement, establishes
the uniform requirements to which nearly every component of road-using
vehicles should conform. 125 Regulations have been annexed to the
Agreement since its entry info force in 1959 (see list of Vehicle
Regulations). These Regulations provide for equal
safety requirements and set environmental protection and energy saving
criteria for Governments and vehicle manufactures in the territories of
46 Contracting Parties to the 1958 Agreement, including also the European
Community, Japan, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Republic of Korea,
Malaysia and Thailand.
The Agreement concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations
for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or be
used on Wheeled Vehicles, concluded on 13 November 1998, in short, the
1998 Agreement, (see item 19 below) provides Governments with a legal framework
and procedures for the adoption of global technical regulations (gtrs)
applicable to road vehicles, their equipments and parts, with a view to
the improvement of their safety, environmental protection, energy efficiency
and anti‑theft performance. The Agreement is intended to function
in parallel to the 1958 Agreement. To date, Azerbaijan, Canada, China,
Cyprus, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Republic
of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden,
Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, European Community are Contracting
Parties to the 1998 Agreement, which entered into force on 25 August 2000
(see list of gtrs).
The Agreement concerning the Adoption of Uniform Conditions for Periodical
Technical Inspections of Wheeled Vehicles and the Reciprocal Recognition
of such Inspections, concluded on 13 November 1997, in short the 1997 Agreement,
(see item 19 below) provides the legal framework and procedures for the
adoption of uniform rules for carrying out technical inspections of vehicles
in use and for the reciprocal recognition of the certificates of such inspections.
10 countries are Parties to the 1997 Agreement, which entered into force
on 27 January 2001. 17 countries are signatories pending ratification (see
list of Rules).
18. Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Uniform Technical Prescriptions
for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or be
used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition
of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these Prescriptions, of 20 March 1958
19. Agreement Concerning the Adoption of Uniform Conditions for Periodical
Technical Inspections of Wheeled Vehicles and the Reciprocal Recognition
of such Inspections, of 13 November 1997
20. Agreement Concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations
for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and/or be
used on Wheeled Vehicles, of 25 June 1998
Other Legal Instruments related to Road Transport
(a) Working Conditions
21. European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles engaged
in International Road Transport (AETR), of 1 July 1970
(b) Taxation
22. Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles for Private Use in International
Traffic, of 18 May 1956
23. Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles engaged in International
Passenger Transport, of 14 December 1956
24. Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles engaged in International
Goods Transport, of 14 December 1956
(c) Private Law
25. Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods
by Road (CMR), of 19 May 1956
26. Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International
Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), of 5 July 1978
27. Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Passengers
and Luggage by Road (CVR), of 1 March 1973
28. Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International
Carriage of Passengers and Luggage by Road (CVR), of 5 July 1978
(d) Economic Regulations
29. General Agreement on Economic Regulations for International Road
Transport,
of 17 March 1954
Inland Navigation
30. Convention relating to the Unification of Certain Rules concerning
Collisions in Inland Navigation, of 15 March 1960
31. Convention on the Registration of Inland Navigation Vessels, of 25
January 1965
32. Convention on the Measurement of Inland Navigation Vessels, of 15
February 1966
33. Convention relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners
of Inland Navigation Vessels (CLN), of 1 March 1973
34. Protocol to the Convention relating to the Limitation of the Liability
of Owners of Inland Navigation Vessels (CLN), of 5 July 1978
35. Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Passengers
and Luggage by Inland Waterway (CVN), of 6 February 1976
36. Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International
Carriage of Passengers and Luggage by Inland Waterway (CVN), of 5 July
1978
In addition to the above-mentioned instruments establishing legal norms,
there exist also a number of well-established recommendations in the field
of inland navigation. These are, in particular:
- European Code for Inland Waterways (CEVNI) and Signs and Signals on
Inland Waterways (SIGNI) containing rules of the road and signs and signals
on inland waterways;
- Recommendations on Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation Vessels.
The Recommendations lay down detailed requirements relating to the construction,
inspection and issuance of certificates to inland navigation vessels;
- Resolution No. 40 on International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure
Craft. The Resolution prescribes minimum requirements for examination
and certification of pleasure navigation craft operators with a view
to providing them with international certificates of competence recognized
in UNECE member countries other than their own.
The above documents are used by UNECE member Governments for the development
of their national legislation on relevant questions.
Border Crossing Facilitation
One of the UNECE's most valuable contributions to the rapid international
movement of goods is the TIR Convention. Under the TIR system no frontier
checks of the goods transported are made between the Customs offices of
departure and arrival. Originally drawn up for European road transport,
the TIR Convention has been adopted by many countries in other continents,
most notably in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.
37. Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring, signed in New
York on 4 June 1954
38. Additional Protocol to the Convention concerning Customs Facilities
for Touring, relating to the importation of tourist publicity documents
and material, signed in New York on 4 June 1954
39. Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Private Road Vehicles,
signed in New York on 4 June 1954
40. Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under
Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention), of 15 January 1959
41. Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under
Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention), of 14 November
1975
42. Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation for Private Use of
Aircraft and Pleasure Boats, of 18 May 1956
43. Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Commercial Road
Vehicles, of 18 May 1956
44. International Convention to Facilitate the Crossing of Frontiers
for Passengers and Baggage carried by Rail, of 10 January 1952
45. International Convention to Facilitate the Crossing of Frontiers
for Goods Carried by Rail, of 10 January 1952
46. Customs Convention concerning Spare Parts Used for Repairing Europ
Wagons, of 15 January 1958
47. Customs Convention on Containers, of 18 May 1956
48. Customs Convention on Containers, of 2 December 1972
49. European Convention on Customs Treatment of Pallets Used in International Transport,
of 9 December 1960
50. International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls
of Goods, 21 October 1982
51. Convention on Customs Treatment of Pool Containers Used in International
Transport, 21 January 1994
Transport of Dangerous Goods
Recommendations covering the transport of dangerous goods, including
hazardous wastes and substances, are issued and regularly revised by the
Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods of the United
Nations Economic and Social Council which has its secretariat in the UNECE.
These recommendations serve as the basis for many national regulations
a well as for international instruments covering the transport of dangerous
goods by sea, air, rail, road and inland waterways all over the world.
Amongst these, those listed below have also been developed and are regularly
updated by the UNECE.
- European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous
Goods by Road ( ADR), of 30 September 1957
- Protocol amending article 1 (a), article 14 (1) and article 14 (3)
(b) of the European Agreement of 30 September 1957 concerning the International
Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road ( ADR), of 28 October 1993
- Convention on Civil Liability for Damage caused during Carriage of
Dangerous Goods by Road, Rail and Inland Navigation Vessels ( CRTD),
of 10 October 1989
- European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous
Goods by Inland Waterway ( ADN), of 25 May 2000
Transport of Perishable Foodstuffs
56. Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs
and on the Special Equipment to be Used for such Carriage ( ATP), of 1
September 1970
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