1. Simplification of Procedures For Transporters and Forwarders: View From the Private Sector Alexandriopolis,2004

2. INTERNATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT
cost-efficient
flexible
unique convenience to door-to-door delivery
the heart of the European economy
serves as a bridge between the business world and suppliers and consumers

3. INTERNATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT
In the EUROPEAN UNION
76 % of goods purchased, sold, produced and traded are carried by ROAD
while more than 45 % of the transport demand involves ROAD transport

4. IMPORTANCE OF ROAD TRANSPORT
MAJOR SECTOR IN NATIONAL ECONOMIES
HIGH % OF NATIONAL GDP

5. MINIMIZING ADVERSE EFFECTS OF ROAD TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT OPERATORS DO THEIR HOMEWORK !
Reducing accidents
Reducing environmental damage
Reducing fuel consumption
Increasing safety and efficiency
Investing in technology and innovation

6. EXISTING BARRIERS TO INTERNATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT
Complex and time-consuming customs clearance and visa procedures
Approvals from several authorities are needed for obtaining required certificates and documents
Repetitive inspections (e.g. roadblocks)
Lack of transparency and barriers to access information

7. BARRIERS TO INTERNATIONAL ROAD TRANSPORT
Imposition of such barriers by national authorities ≠
Efforts laid down by the industry on behalf of the international trade

8. WE ASK GOVERNMENTS TO SOLVE problems related to border delays
TAKE MEASURES to adopt simplified and harmonised procedures on the basis of many existing UNECE Regulations and Conventions,
DECREASE number of authorities and
ENSURE flexibility in enforcement of international standards,

9. WE ASK GOVERNMENTS TO
INTRODUCE “one-stop” or “single window” technology,
TRAIN border personnel and transport operators,
INVEST in infrastructure,
FACILITATE the issuance of annual and multi-entry visas to professional drivers, ensuring fair and efficient fiscal treatment of the road transport industry,

10. SIMPLIFICATION OF PROFESSIONAL VISA IN SECI REGION
BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS BY SECI MEMBER STATES
organising special desks
issuing 1-year multiple-entry visas
facilitation for frequent entries
acceptance of pre-determined documents
Use of intermediaries (eg; PRO Committees)

11. SIMPLIFICATION OF VISA - EXAMPLES -
EXCHANGE OF LISTINGS OF PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS REGULARLY REQURING VISAS
TURKEY- BULGARIA
TURKEY- UKRAINE
TURKEY – ROMANIA
Listings are exchanged via diplomatic channels
Deposited to the relevant diplomatic misson
Plans for a region-wide multilateral agreement

12. VISA OFFICE Facilitates visa procedures for the industry professionals
Facilitates visa procedures for the society (UK Visas since 2003)
Visa facilitation for 10 countries
In visas were provided

13. SIMPLIFICATION OF TRANSPORT PROCEDURES
SECI
BSEC
UNECE
ECMT EU
IRU
TRACECA

14. PROJECTS ON FACILITATION OF TRANSPORT
SECI TURK-PRO : International Vehicle Weight Certificate
Facilitation of visa for professional drivers
BSEC : Agreement on Simplification of Visa
Procedures for Lorry Drivers’
: Agreement on Simplification of Visa
Procedures for Businessmen in the BSEC Member States
BSEC-URTA : International Vehicle Weight Certificate
TRACECA : TRACECA Visa
: Harmonization of Border Crossing Procedures
IRU : Resolution on the issuance of visas to professional
drivers
NEED FOR URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF “Memorandum of Understanding on the Facilitation of International Road Transport of Goods in the SECI Region “- Article 10

15. INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE WEIGHT CERTIFICATE
SECI: 1999 Memorandum on the introduction of an International Vehicle Weight Certificate
BSEC, SECI and CIS cooperate under the umbrella of UN/ECE with coordination of IRU
Aim : Single and one-off certification = uninterrupted flow of goods within SECI and beyond

16. INTERNATIONAL VEHICLE WEIGHT CERTIFICATE
NEW ANNEX 8 to
1982 Convention on Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods
IVWC is included in the Annex !
38 contracting states including 15 EU Member countries
Recently , CIS STATES adopted the IVWC PROJECT !

17. KAPIKULE-KAPITAN ANDREEVO ADVANCE INFORMATION RELAY PROJECT
advance information through an on-line portal
truck information available when it arrives at the border
Memorandum of Understanding between the customs undersecretariats of Bulgaria and Turkey
2 proposals :
1- flow of data to be provided by Undersecretariat of Customs
2- direct access by companies

18. SINGLE WINDOW PAYMENT TURK PRO and BUL PRO:
collection of various charges related to transport by one single body linking all relevant agencies through computerised information systems at Kapitan Andreevo - Kapikule border crossings
dedicated working groups and pilot projects by PRO Committees from ROMANIA, ALBANIA, CROATIA,MACEDONIA, GREECE AND SERBIA-MONTENEGRO

19. TRANSPORT INFORMATION NETWORK –ULAŞNET (TURKEY)
UND – TURKISH MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT – TURKISH UNDERSECRETARIAT OF CUSTOMS
collect and record information on all drivers crossing 15 Turkish borders (data on load, company,driver,route)
facilitate and accelerate customs procedures
avoid unfair competition

20. UND-VIALTIS VAT RETURN SERVICE
international road transport operators the opportunity to reimburse huge amounts of foreign currency previously left abroad
avoiding payment of very high commissions and unnecessary consultancy charges.
Since January 2003, 250 member companies were reimbursed VAT returns amounting to over €
UND-ESSO Fuel Cards: discounts, electronic payment, express VAT collection by global receipts.

21. FACILITATION :UND VEHICLE TRACKING AND FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Developed by UND
Based on GPRS technology
Used by transporters, forwarders and exporters
can determine the exact location of their vehicles on Internet and can control them
Drivers may send alarm messages
On-board communication units
Users can receive information on position, speed, petrol consumption, temperature
Becoming wide-spread (incorporated into contracts)

22. ENCOURAGING IMPROVEMENTS
CONCLUSIONS
ENCOURAGING IMPROVEMENTS
THANKS TO
VALUABLE EFFORTS LAID BY GOVERNMENTS AND THE INDUSTRY TOWARDS FACILITATION OF
TRANSPORT AND TRADE

23. WE HAVE IMPORTANT TASKS
We have to do a lot to move ahead if we aim an actual free movement of goods and a TRUE GLOBALISATION

24. LIBERALIZATION OF ROAD TRANSPORT
“any penalty on road transport is an even bigger penalty on the economy as a whole”

25. LIBERALIZATION OF ROAD TRANSPORT
“The longest journeys start with a small step forward”

26. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE