Slide1: Baltic Europe Intergroup Enlargement and beyond: European Union & road transport Strasbourg, 16 May 2006 Oleg Kamberski Head Passenger Transport European Parliament


This is the IRU: This is the IRU


The IRU’s Objective: The IRU’s Objective “The objective of the IRU shall be to contribute, in the interest of society as a whole, to the development and prosperity, in all countries, of domestic and international road transport…” Article 2, IRU Constitution


The IRU: a partner you can count on: The IRU: a partner you can count on The IRU has: An Expert Secretariat in Geneva, Brussels, Moscow and Istanbul. A Worldwide Network of National Member Associations. Associate Members in Related Industry Sectors. Huge know-how in Passenger & Goods Road Transport. Experience in creating and running problem-solving Private-Public Partnerships


Main Areas of IRU Activity : Main Areas of IRU Activity Representing the passenger & goods road transport sector (Employers) worldwide Providing Leadership for the road transport sector on Key Issues Managing TIR System administration for United Nations Managing IRU Academy to harmonise and strengthen road transport training Managing an international star classification system (comfort & quality) for buses and coaches Providing Commercial Services to road transport sector, in conjunction with IRU Members Providing Information Services for Members, via www.iru.org


Evolution of IRU Structure: Evolution of IRU Structure


Evolution of IRU Membership: Evolution of IRU Membership 2006 180 Members 70 Countries


IRU Commissions & Working Parties: IRU Commissions & Working Parties Social Affairs Economic Affairs Customs Affairs Legal Affairs Technical Affairs Road Safety Services to Transport Operators Commissions Working Parties Dangerous Goods Combined Transport Taxis and hire cars with driver


IRU Priorities 2006 and Beyond: IRU Priorities 2006 and Beyond Sustainable Development Innovation Incentives Infrastructure Facilitation Trade Tourism Road Transport


IRU EU Delegationin Brussels: Passenger Transport Priorities (Bus and Coach) Environment and sustainable travel Access to the profession Competition in public transport & public service obligations Access to the international market & cabotage Driving and resting times & digital tachograph Controls in road transport Weights and dimensions of coaches VAT & excise duties in fuel Safety & Security IRU EU Delegation in Brussels


IRU EU Delegationin Brussels: Goods Transport Priorities Access to the profession Driving and rest times Digital Tachograph Infrastructure charging Professional diesel Transalpine freight transport Traffic bans VAT refunding IRU EU Delegation in Brussels


Major IRU Events in 2005-06: Major IRU Events in 2005-06


Slide13: 30th IRU World Congress in Dubai More than 1500 Participants from 70 countries


IRU Academy Seminar:Saint-Petersburg : IRU Academy Seminar: Saint-Petersburg


4th Euro-Asia Conference: Warsaw: 4th Euro-Asia Conference: Warsaw 31 May – 1 June 2007!


IRU World Congress 2008: Istanbul: IRU World Congress 2008: Istanbul 15 – 17 May 2008


Baltic countries: Baltic countries Key role of road transport Baltic countries are a genuine EU-Russia freight transit interface (volume increase in times not in percentages – e.g. 3 times in EST in the last decade, > 10% yearly increase) Tourism and travel receipts have doubled and even tripled in the last 10 years Trucks, buses & coaches – the key intermediary in serving trade and tourism throughout the transport chain Example 1: Number of international trips carried by road freight operators from Baltic countries higher than number of international trips carried out by Russian carriers Example 2: Number of heavy lorries registered for international traffic higher than those in domestic traffic


Baltic countries: Baltic countries Impact of enlargement – positive Larger and more efficient market No barriers and waiting times at EU internal borders Gradual improvement of relations with neighbours, Russia Good business perspectives in CIS Additional financing from EU, including for roads Improvement of business culture Impact of enlargement – negative Insufficient preparation to join EU, including a rather formal and superficial transposition of the acquis Huge increase of costs (fuel, taxes, insurances, social payments) Increased level of competition & threat of mass bankruptcies Brain and « hands » drain Increase of waiting times at external/Russian borders


Baltic countries: Baltic countries Border crossing problems with third countries (RUS): Political will at EU level needed to tackle these EUROPEAN problems now Excessively long waiting times No clear & regular information on requirements (controls and documents) Difficult, costly and changing procedures to obtain special permits for overweight transport Mandatory registration for drivers staying >3 days in Russia (+ heavy fines) Non respect of international legal obligations and transfer of duties typical for customs offices of destination to border crossings + double checks / retention of vehicles / payment of EUR 35-45 per day parking costs etc… Refusal to deal with TIR carnets if no electronic copy available (not required by legislation) Security problems: in case of theft (reportedly, frequent), carriers heavily fined: lack of goods (stolen!) considered as an administrative offence Key: How efficiently the future EUR 1-billion EU Border Fund will be utilised by new MSs to increase security but also to improve fluidity of traffic at EU external borders! The EU-Russia Transport Dialogue: very recent, needs to focus on real problems and priorities


Baltic countries: Baltic countries Daily waiting time at the Narva (EST)-Ivangorod (RUS) border crossing point – January-May 2006


Baltic countries: Baltic countries


Baltic countries: Baltic countries


Baltic countries: Baltic countries Mid-term review of the White Paper on EU Transport Policy & impact on peripheral countries Road freight transport: If role not recognised and road transport penalised – peripheral countries’ (i.e. Baltic countries) development, economies, trade, transport & ultimately society will be most penalised Bus and coach transport: The positive experience of new Member States in establishing a dense network of bus and coach terminals and regular lines (intercity and international) can become an original input in the future EU transport and travel policy External dimension: Problems experienced by Baltic countries and operators with neighbours are now EU problems and should be tackled as such, so that the real added value of EU can be recognised by businesses and citizens


Baltic countries: Baltic countries EU and neighbouring countries/regions: road transport is the vital link The EU as a model: market, legislation (acquis), democracy Role of road transport: In the majority of the cases all main neighbouring countries economic centres and tourism destinations are at a “lorry/coach reach” The Europe and beyond perspective: Infrastructure links are important, but bottlenecks (borders) and operational side (EU agreements, e.g. on regular bus/coach lines) should also be given a priority


Baltic countries: Baltic countries Bus and coach transport (tourist & regular lines) Today: the largest collective passenger transport mode in the EU (economic, safest, environment-friendliest, closest alternative to car) Role in the Baltic countries: around 20% of passenger traffic (against 9% for the EU) USA: Buses and coaches bind the nation together. They transport more than all other transport modes. The national network of bus terminals includes more than three times the number of airports and intercity rail stations. The bus and coach provides greater coverage of rural areas. EU: A European Union Travel Policy missing to bridge the gap between EU institutions themselves, but also between the EU-state-region-city levels Problems at the internal Schengen borders: buses and coaches (regular lines) controlled systematically at some internal Schengen borders (against Schengen provisions): this merits an intervention from European Parliament, e.g. with Commissioner Frattini Large potential but unfair competition with other modes Fuel taxation: excise duties on fuel paid by road passenger transport only VAT on ticket sales: not paid by airlines but paid by bus and coach Various subsidies: e.g. regional airports Problem: Bus and coach industry does not “exist” either statistically nor politically for governments


Baltic countries: Baltic countries IRU member associations are among the largest NGOs in Baltic countries ERAA (Estonia) LINAVA (Lithuania) LATVIJAS AUTO (Latvia) Associations will be more than happy to establish regular contacts and assist their national MEPs


ERAA - Estonia: ERAA - Estonia represents its members in negotiations with state bodies and trade unions participates in the preparation of laws and other legal acts provides information services establishes funds in the interests of its members participates in commercial undertakings to provide services to members publishing activities related to the haulage business customs documents, TIR Carnet licences, bilateral permits and ECMT licences various payment cards (DKV, VIACARD, CAPLIS) visa service special Russian oversize/overweight authorisations legal consultation professional training of drivers VAT recovery Contacts: 91 Narva Road, 10127 Tallinn, Tel: +372 60 620 40, Fax: +372 60 620 41, e-mail: info@eraa.ee, Web: www.eraa.ee


Latvijas Auto - Latvia: Latvijas Auto - Latvia The Latvian Association of International Road Carriers, Latvijas Auto, is the largest public organisation in Latvia, uniting 700 Latvian companies and road carriers. Established in 1990, it represents 90 % of Latvian road carriers, providing them with many advantages and information on international conventions and agreements concerning international road haulage. In 1992 Latvijas Auto became a member of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) Latvijas Auto is a TIR guaranteeing association in Latvia It provides effective representation of Latvian road carriers’ interests in Latvia and abroad Participates in international negotiations to determine bilateral haulage quotas, and also as an initiator, to lay down principles for road transport market regulations Offers services to its members Offers consultation services & training Today, members of Latvijas Auto own more than 6.500 motor vehicles for international road carriage. Over the past few years, great efforts have been made in fleet renewal. Contacts: Address: 2, Republikas laukums, LV-1981, Riga, Tel: +371 7027218,7027106, Fax: +371 7027134 – http://www.lauto.lv/en/news/lauto/


LINAVA - Lithuania: LINAVA - Lithuania Co-operation with state bodies and institutions: Represents members at national and international level: Confederation of Lithuanian Industrialists, International Chamber of Commerce-Lithuania, International Road Transport Union Fuel taxes Other taxation / VAT Market protection Social dialogue Information (“Vežėjų žinios” – bi-monthly magazine, “Transporto pasaulis” – monthly magazine, newsletters, website, telephone) Customs documents (TIR carnets) Legal and financial consulting, professional training for operators, coach and truck drivers’ refresher courses VAT recovery for fuel Visas for drivers (Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine) Manuals, maps, stickers Contacts: J.Basanavičiaus str. 45, LT-2009 Vilnius, Tel.: + 370 5 278 65 01, Fax: + 370 5 278 65 24, e-mail: office@linava.lt, Web site: www.linava.lt