BSEC Countries gathered for the facilitation of Road Transport

The 15th Meeting of the Steering Committee on the facilitation of Road Transport of Goods in the BSEC Region was held on 9 November 2021 in virtual format.

The meeting was intended to highlight the issue of facilitating international road transport and expanding the capabilities of the supply chain in the BSEC region. It was opened by the welcoming speech of BSEC Secretary General H.E. Lazar Comanescu. He thanked BSEC-URTA for speedy completing of BSEC permits-2022 and for BSEC-URTA’s contribution to the BSEC permit system since its creation and for the recent efforts for its digitalization.

BSEC-URTA Secretary General Mr. Adrian Albu made a presentation to the esteemed BSEC countries’ official representatives and shared the essential problems of BSEC transporters with them.

First of all, he called for the liberalization of international road transport. Mr. Albu highlighted the significant importance of improving the conditions and infrastructure for the drivers and urged the BSEC countries to do so.

He focused on the concept of safe and secure parking for trucks in the BSEC region. In this regard, the BSEC-URTA shared videos with the best examples of truck parking, in particular, on the newly created parking in Kapitan Andreevo, Bulgaria, and in Kapikul, Turkey, a project carried out in cooperation with TOBB GTI.

The BSEC-URTA thanked the Bulgarian customs authorities for the safe and secure parking of trucks in Kapitan Andreevo, which saved the BSEC drivers from suffering on the Bulgarian highways while waiting to enter Turkey.

Big Step for Digitalization

By the BSEC-URTA’s suggestion, the possible introduction of e-CMR pilot project for the BSEC region was especially supported by the delegations of Romania, the Republic of Turkey, and Ukraine.

BSEC-URTA and IRU agreed to prepare an Explanatory Note on the e-CMR project proposal and present it to the Steering Committee for BSEC member countries and the eventual establishment of a Task Force for working on the project.

On behalf of the IRU Mr. Erman Ereke made two presentations: damage to international road transport from COVID-19 and related restrictions; e-CMR and e-TIR road transport digitalization tools as effective assistants in international road transport.

BSEC-URTA expressed its respect to BSEC and the new Ukrainian chairmanship of the Steering Committee on Road Transport Facilitation.