Economic Commission for Europe INLAND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE Working Party on Customs Questions affecting Transport (Seventh session, Athens 22 and 23 April 2002) UNITED NATIONS TIR Contact Group THE TIR REVISION PROCESS IN PERSPECTIVE Agenda Item 3

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 2 TIR Revision Process Status quo period (“the good old times”) s Review of the TIR system (“the waking-up”) ? – Short-term measures (“defusing the TIR crisis”) – Long-term measures (“stabilizing TIR”) Future strategy (“global e-TIR vision”) 2005 and beyond

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 3 Status quo period ( s) International Actors – TIR Administrative Committee (UNECE secretariat) – UNECE Working Party WP.30 (UNECE secretariat) – International Road Transport Union (IRU) Activities – Exchange of views on application of TIR Convention – 16 amendments to TIR Convention – Issues: Technical provisions of vehicles/containers General procedural interpretations

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 4 Review of the TIR System Geo-political events – Creation of new independent States in Central and Eastern Europe – Tremendous increase in international East-West road transport – Establishment of the internal market in the EU Ensuing problems – Customs transit systems under “stress” – Sudden increase in number of non-discharged Carnets – Sudden increase in Customs claims

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 5 Review of the TIR System Ensuing problems (cont’d) – No early warning systems at national Customs authorities, national associations, IRU and UNECE Consequences for the TIR system – Denunciation of TIR insurance system in 1994 – Large number of still outstanding Customs claims (continuing Paris “arbitration” process)

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 6 Review of the TIR System Short-term measures at national level Governments – Enhanced internal and external Custom control procedures (incl. centralized discharge systems, etc.) – Provision of data for SAFETIR Short-term measures by the private sector – Introduction of SAFETIR system by IRU – Introduction of commercial control measures (IRU, associations, transport operators) – Increase in staff and resources for control measures

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 7 Review of the TIR System Short-term measures at international level – Introduction of Tobacco/Alcohol TIR Carnet (mid-October 1994) (suspension: 30 November 1994) – Resolution No. 49 (3 March 1995) – Recommendation control system for TIR Carnets (October 1995) – UNECE int. register on Customs seals and stamps – Creation of TIR Contact Group by UNECE

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 8 Review of the TIR System Short-term measures at international level TIR Contact Group – 1. Session (Prague, November 1994) – Present: 12 Customs authorities, 3 associations, IRU – Issues discussed: Tobacco/Alcohol TIR Carnet Shorter discharge procedures Reduction in number TIR Customs offices Full guarantee coverage of duties/taxes by TIR Carnet holder Decentralized TIR guarantee system Governmental cooperative mechanisms at international level Revision of existing or preparation of new TIR Convention

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 9 Review of the TIR System Short-term measures at international level TIR Contact Group Terms of Reference given by UNECE WP.30 in 1995 Consultative mechanism for public and private sector Allow for quick reaction to new emerging problems in TIR Provide for internationally harmonized approach in implementation of TIR Convention at the national level Reports directly to UNECE WP.30 UNECE secretariat will service the sessions

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 10 Review of the TIR System Short-term measures at international level TIR Contact Group 2. Session (Geneva, February 1995) 3. Session (Budapest, May 1995) 4. Session (Geneva, June 1995) Issues: IRU/SGS TIR Carnet control system, TIR revision 5. Session (Prague, December 1995) 6. Session (Istanbul, December 1998) Issue: Application of Phase I of TIR revision process 7. Session (Athens, April 2002) Issue: Application of Phase II of TIR revision process

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 11 Review of the TIR System Long-term measures at international level Official start of TIR revision process by UNECE In February 1995 (Decision of Inland Transport Committee) Identification of objectives for the TIR revision process Phasing and priorities of TIR revision process

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 12 Review of the TIR System Objectives of TIR revision process – Establish control over the TIR procedure at national and international levels for Customs authorities and the private sector – Ensure transparency, particularly of the international guarantee system, at all levels – Define responsibilities of all Parties involved – Clarify and harmonize key procedures at national and international levels – Allow for use of modern procedures and technologies – Prepare TIR Convention for global application

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 13 Review of the TIR System Phasing and priorities of TIR revision process – Phase I ( ) Entry into force Establish control over the TIR procedure at the national and international levels for Customs authorities and the private sector and ensure transparency, particularly of the international guarantee system, at all levels – Phase II ( )Entry into force Define responsibilities of all Parties involved and clarify and harmonize key legal and administrative procedures at national and international levels. Establish examples of best practice. – Phase III ( ?) Entry into force 2006 ? Allow for use of modern procedures and technologies (e-TIR)

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 14 Review of the TIR System Preparation of TIR Convention (system) for global application using its inherent features – Succession of national Customs transit systems only linked by international TIR Customs declaration and guarantee system – Key procedures and claims governed by national law – Applicable under very different national circumstances – Cost-effective procedures – Minimum int. public/private supervision and monitoring – No bilateral cooperation of national Customs required – All Contracting Parties/countries are treated alike

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 15 Review of the TIR System Phase I of TIR revision process Controlled access to the TIR procedure operators, associations, IRU Transparency international guarantee contracts and certificates national TIR operations (Article 42 bis) international application (TIR web site, on-line documentation, TIR Handbook in various languages) TIR Focal Points (Customs and associations) International cooperation and coordination TIRExB and TIR secretariat (Govt. counterpart to IRU) International TIR Databank (ITDB)

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 16 Review of the TIR System Phase I of TIR revision process TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) Mandate (Annex 8, Article 10 of TIR Convention) Supervision of the application of the Convention, including the operation of the TIR guarantee system … Supervise centralized printing and distribution of TIR Carnets Coordinate exchange of information between Customs authorities, associations and international organization (IRU) Support training of Customs personnel and of other interested parties Maintain central records on rules for issuance of TIR Carnets prescribed by int. organization for their national associations …

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 17 Review of the TIR System Phase I of TIR revision process TIR Executive Board (TIRExB) Priorities of work in 2002 Evaluation of national control measures by Customs Functioning of TIR guarantee system Re-establishment of full international guarantee coverage Full application of SAFETIR system Authorized consignee concept Computerization of the TIR procedure …

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 18 Review of the TIR System Phase I of TIR revision process TIR Secretary and TIR secretariat Mandate: Execution of decisions of the TIRExB Staff (4 Professional and 2 support staff) TIR Secretary is UNECE staff member UNECE houses TIR secretariat and provides necessary institutional support

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 19 Review of the TIR System Cooperation IRU and TIR secretariat – Both located in Geneva (Switzerland) – Close cooperation (regular meetings of staff, etc. ) – Coordination of work (Seminars, etc.) – Joint IRU/TIR secretariat SAFETIR Taskforce Common interest: Efficient operation of the TIR system

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 20 Review of the TIR System Phase II of TIR revision process – Identify responsibilities of all Parties involved and clarify and harmonize key legal and administrative procedures at national and international levels. – Define key terms and concepts – Clarify responsibility of international organization for international guarantee system – Best practices for termination, discharge and inquiry procedures – (Example Authorization and Agreement)

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 21 Review of the TIR System Phase II of TIR revision process Application of the amendments to the TIR Convention at national level ECE/TRANS/17/Amend.21 Opinion of UN Legal Office on application of amendments National legal requirements (publication in legal journal, etc..) Depositary Notifications C.N…. (on TIR web site)

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 22 Review of the TIR System TIR Handbook Content : Description of TIR Customs Transit System Full and integral text of the TIR Convention Contracting Parties Resolutions and Recommendations Examples of best practice Example authorization and example agreement (Duly filled-in TIR Carnet – to be completed) Availability (free of charge): Hard cover Electronic version

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 23 TIR WEB site

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 24 Review of the TIR System TIR Web Site hosted on UNECE server

UNITEDNATIONSECE Contact Group - 7 th Session - Agenda item 3 25 Review of the TIR System Next TIR related inter-governmental work sessions UNECE WP June 2002 (Geneva) October 2002 (Geneva) TIR Administrative Committee 24-25October 2002 (Geneva) Expert Group on Computerization of TIR procedure September 2002 Information, agenda and documentation available under