Geneva, 6 October 2006
The Administrative Committee for the TIR Convention, consisting of the 66 Contracting Parties to the Convention, met in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
The Committee considered a number of important issues for the well functioning of the Convention. In particular, noting the concerns raised by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) about the future of the TIR system, the Committee clearly expressed its commitment to work with the IRU and its member associations in a true Public-Private Partnership to ensure the sustainability of the TIR system. Furthermore, the Committee adopted two alternative solutions for the financing of the TIR Executive Board and the TIR Secretariat, which was one of the main concerns raised by the IRU.
"The solutions adopted respond positively to the concerns raised by the IRU and at the same time respect general transparency and accountability requirements of the UN system ", said Mr. Jos Capel Ferrer, Director, Transport Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), who continued: "The UNECE secretariat calls on the IRU to respond positively to the solutions presented by the TIR Contracting Parties".
The IRU has until 15 October 2006 to define its position concerning these solutions.
Facts about the TIR Convention : Annually 3 million international transports are carried out utilizing the TIR Convention. More than 35,000 transport operators in the 55 countries, where the TIR system is operational depend on the functioning of the Convention. This Convention enables cross-border international movement of goods under guarantee through the use of the commonly accepted Customs transit document, the TIR Carnet, with limited intervention by Customs of intermediate transit countries. More information about the TIR Convention is available from: http://www.unece.org/tir/welcome.html.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Jos Capel Ferrer, Director, or
Poul Hansen, Economic Affairs Officer,
Transport Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva, 10 Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 24 00
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 00 39
Ref: ECE/TRANS/06/P06
The Administrative Committee for the TIR Convention, consisting of the 66 Contracting Parties to the Convention, met in Geneva under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
The Committee considered a number of important issues for the well functioning of the Convention. In particular, noting the concerns raised by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) about the future of the TIR system, the Committee clearly expressed its commitment to work with the IRU and its member associations in a true Public-Private Partnership to ensure the sustainability of the TIR system. Furthermore, the Committee adopted two alternative solutions for the financing of the TIR Executive Board and the TIR Secretariat, which was one of the main concerns raised by the IRU.
"The solutions adopted respond positively to the concerns raised by the IRU and at the same time respect general transparency and accountability requirements of the UN system ", said Mr. Jos Capel Ferrer, Director, Transport Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), who continued: "The UNECE secretariat calls on the IRU to respond positively to the solutions presented by the TIR Contracting Parties".
The IRU has until 15 October 2006 to define its position concerning these solutions.
Facts about the TIR Convention : Annually 3 million international transports are carried out utilizing the TIR Convention. More than 35,000 transport operators in the 55 countries, where the TIR system is operational depend on the functioning of the Convention. This Convention enables cross-border international movement of goods under guarantee through the use of the commonly accepted Customs transit document, the TIR Carnet, with limited intervention by Customs of intermediate transit countries. More information about the TIR Convention is available from: http://www.unece.org/tir/welcome.html.
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Jos Capel Ferrer, Director, or
Poul Hansen, Economic Affairs Officer,
Transport Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva, 10 Switzerland
Phone: +41 (0) 22 917 24 00
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 00 39
Ref: ECE/TRANS/06/P06