TRACECA will liberalise transport services

 

Bulgaria has assumed for a year the Presidency of the TRACECA Intergovernmental Commission (transport corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia) and Minister Petar Mutafchiev has undertaken the mandate from his Azerbaijani colleague, Zia Mamedov. This took place at the fifth regular annual meeting, held in Sofia at the beginning of May. Among the highlights of the forum were the adoption of a strategy for the development of the transport corridor Europe-the Caucasus-Asia by 2015 and the improvement of connections between the TRACECA region and the Trans-European networks.

 

In his opening speech the Bulgarian transport minister underlined the role of our country in this international initiative, without which the connection between the Trans-European network and the countries from the region of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea and Central Asia would be significantly hindered. In his turn, the President Georgi Parvanov stated in his welcoming address that the TRACECA project is the best opportunity for the transport of people and goods along an alternative route. The development of trans-global programmes will promote investment, not only in countries which are directly involved with them, but in their neighbours as well. The President added that the construction and reconstruction of rail and road highways, the concessioning of ports and airports and the facilitation of border-crossing procedures are only some of the measures adopted by Bulgaria in order to attract and establish favourable conditions for international traffic, crossing its territory.

 

The EU has invested EUR100 million in various programmes and initiatives for the development of the transport corridor, lying along the ‘Silk road’, announced Zoltan Kazatsay, EC Deputy Director General for Energy & Transport. A further EUR50 million are being allocated. Another EUR14 million (in 2006 only) will be allocated for the training of experts from the air transport sector, the construction of logistic centres, the opening of sea highways in the Black and Caspian seas and the environmental protection of their waters.

 

One of the main focuses, which is a priority, is the development of multimodal services and terminal facilities. To this end, reforms have been undertaken in order to achieve greater efficiency and financial viability of the common railway network of the corridor. More and more investment will be planned and allocated for the establishment of hubs for combined transport located along the corridor. Much work will be done on the improvement of the operational capacities of the railway network with a view to the enhancement of quality and efficiency of international transport between EU and TRACECA countries.

 

The reforms follow two main directions. One of them is the separation of infrastructure managers from operators, and the overall trend is that state participation gradually terminates and the two structures become economically autonomous. The task of the countries located along the ‘Silk road’ is to commercialise their railways and adopt market principles. Of particular importance is the provision of open access to infrastructure for all players in the transport process, which in itself will result in higher competition and the enhancement of service quality. The countries concerned are at different stages in the implementation of the reforms. Therefore, it is highly important that they reach the same phase in the process as soon as possible by means of allocating more investment to infrastructure modernisation, which will fortify the positions and role of the sector in the international multimodal network. It would also be necessary to overcome the existing differences between the countries as regards the common tariff policy of TRACECA. Coordinated measures will be adopted with a view to the enhancement of customs control efficiency by means of unification of international documents, implementation of automatic and computerised systems at the border control points and the establishment of a unified methodology for control over goods and passengers.

 

The adopted strategy for the period by 2015 envisages: Investment of EUR1 billion in the development of all transport modes along the Euro-Asian corridors as well as for the acceleration of customs procedures and the cancellation of permit quotas for road transport in TRACECA countries. The reinforcement of the role of transport forwarders is among the priority tasks. Multimodal transport should be regarded as the only means for rendering ‘door-to-door’ services. The document also highlights the concessions of airports and ports, as well as the establishment of sea highways.

 

The Bulgarian Presidency will not only carry out the preparation work, but will also launch the implementation of the adopted strategy, stated Minister Mutafchiev. According to him, the further development of cooperation with EU structures is of particular importance. After TRACECA instruments are fully exploited, then maximum use will be made of instruments under the New European policy for neighbourhood and cooperation.

 

The participants in the fifth session decided that the IGC TRACECA will be transformed from an international body into an international organisation. They adopted a Declaration and signed a concluding resolution. Held parallel to the session was a ministerial conference on transport between EU member-countries and countries from the region of the Black and Caspian seas, as well as their neighbours.