© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 1 Multilateral agreement on international regular transport of passengers by bus and coach (OmniBUS) (OmniBUS) UNECE SC.1 Meeting Geneva, 21 October 2009 UNECE SC.1 Meeting Geneva, 21 October 2009 Proposal

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 2 OmniBUS - Background  3000 international regular lines in Europe alone  Bilateral agreements create a complicated framework & a burden for authorities and operators  Non preferential treatment of coaches at borders & waiting times  Society’s interest to promote collective bus and coach transport – safe, environmentally-friendly, affordable   a multilateral agreement on international regular bus and coach lines is expected to facilitate these services considerably by creating a harmonised and fairer legal framework, control documents and, ultimately, enforcement procedures across the board, whilst at the same time reducing the administrative burden and costs for both authorities and operators  3000 international regular lines in Europe alone  Bilateral agreements create a complicated framework & a burden for authorities and operators  Non preferential treatment of coaches at borders & waiting times  Society’s interest to promote collective bus and coach transport – safe, environmentally-friendly, affordable   a multilateral agreement on international regular bus and coach lines is expected to facilitate these services considerably by creating a harmonised and fairer legal framework, control documents and, ultimately, enforcement procedures across the board, whilst at the same time reducing the administrative burden and costs for both authorities and operators

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 3 OmniBUS - Background  Request by SC.1 (101 session) to prepare a note  IRU meetings with partner UNECE Governments (2008)  Decision to prepare a proposal for an agreement to allow real discussion  IRU Working Group of Member Associations (both EU and non EU) with input from several Governments (EU and non- EU)  Proposal submitted in July 2008  Proposal briefly presented at 103rd session (postponed)  Request by SC.1 (101 session) to prepare a note  IRU meetings with partner UNECE Governments (2008)  Decision to prepare a proposal for an agreement to allow real discussion  IRU Working Group of Member Associations (both EU and non EU) with input from several Governments (EU and non- EU)  Proposal submitted in July 2008  Proposal briefly presented at 103rd session (postponed)

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 4 OmniBUS – Sources  Bilateral Agreements  Current and future EU legislation on market access  Interbus agreement   UNECE Consolidated Resolution on the Facilitation of International Road Transport (R.E.4)   UNECE Conventions on Road Traffic of 1949 and 1968   WTO General Agreement on Trade of Services  Bilateral Agreements  Current and future EU legislation on market access  Interbus agreement   UNECE Consolidated Resolution on the Facilitation of International Road Transport (R.E.4)   UNECE Conventions on Road Traffic of 1949 and 1968   WTO General Agreement on Trade of Services

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 5 OmniBUS – Main features  Only one application to the “authorising authority” in the country where one of the termini of the service is situated  Authorities of transited countries without picking up or setting down passengers only informed  Duration to issue authorisation (3 months) & 2 months for other authorities involved to respond (if no response = automatic granting of authorisation)  Common list of conditions for refusal of an authorisation  Cabotage allowed & 25% seat capacity limit for cabotage proposed (to be controlled via a passengers list)  Special chapters on safety, environmental provisions, facilitation (border controls, visas) and comfort  Administrative Committee to facilitate implementation and adapt annexes  Only one application to the “authorising authority” in the country where one of the termini of the service is situated  Authorities of transited countries without picking up or setting down passengers only informed  Duration to issue authorisation (3 months) & 2 months for other authorities involved to respond (if no response = automatic granting of authorisation)  Common list of conditions for refusal of an authorisation  Cabotage allowed & 25% seat capacity limit for cabotage proposed (to be controlled via a passengers list)  Special chapters on safety, environmental provisions, facilitation (border controls, visas) and comfort  Administrative Committee to facilitate implementation and adapt annexes

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 6 OmniBUS – Main features  Common application form (EU model)  Common form of authorisation (EU model)  Common form of passengers’ list (industry model)  Common list of serious infringements (EU model)  Common checking procedures and form to avoid multiple controls en route (checks ONLY at terminals and NOT on roadside)  Common application form (EU model)  Common form of authorisation (EU model)  Common form of passengers’ list (industry model)  Common list of serious infringements (EU model)  Common checking procedures and form to avoid multiple controls en route (checks ONLY at terminals and NOT on roadside)

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 7 OmniBUS – Proposed Follow-up  Approve the IRU proposal for further consideration by SC.1  Create of a dedicated SC.1 Ad-Hoc Working Group to work on the draft agreement on a continuous basis  Approve the IRU proposal for further consideration by SC.1  Create of a dedicated SC.1 Ad-Hoc Working Group to work on the draft agreement on a continuous basis

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 8 Smart Move IRU & Busworld long-term global initiative (5 years) IRU & Busworld long-term global initiative (5 years) Facilitate bus/coach transport & travel Facilitate bus/coach transport & travel Double bus/coach use in years Double bus/coach use in years  Open to all, who share Smart Move objectives

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 9 Doubling the use of buses and coaches means (EU): Less 50 mio tonnes CO2 per year Less 50 mio tonnes CO2 per year 3500 less road fatalities per year 3500 less road fatalities per year Spectacular reduction in congestion, since 10-15% less car traffic Spectacular reduction in congestion, since 10-15% less car traffic + 4 million new jobs + 4 million new jobs

© International Road Transport Union (IRU) 2009SC.1 Meeting 21 October 2009Page 10