EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT 43rd Annual Report DOCUMENTS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT IN 1996 EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT (ECMT) The European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) is an inter-governmental organisation established by aProtocol signed in Brussels on 17 October 1953. It is a forum in which Ministers responsible for transport, and more specificallytheinland transport sector, can co-operate on policy. Within this forum, Ministers can openly discuss current problems and agree uponjoint approaches aimed at improving the utilisation and at ensuring the rational development of European transport systems of international importance. At present, the ECMT's role primarily consists of: - helping to create an integrated transport system throughout the enlarged Europe that is economically and technically efficient, meets the highestpossible safety and environmental standards and takes full account of the social dimension; - helping also to build a bridge between the European Union and the rest of the continent at a political level. The Council ofthe Conference comprises the Ministers ofTransport of36 full Member countries: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M.), Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. There are five Associate member countries (Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States) and four Observer countries (Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Morocco). A Committee ofDeputies, composed of senior civil servants representing Ministers, prepares proposals for consideration by the Council of Ministers. The Committee is assisted by working groups, each of which has a specific mandate. The issues currently being studied - on which policy decisions by Ministers will be required - include the development and implementation of a pan-European transport policy; the integration of Central and Eastern European Countries into the European transport market; specific issues relating to transport by rail, road and waterway; combinedtransport; transport andthe environment; the socialcosts oftransport; trends in international transport and infrastructure needs; transport forpeople with mobility handicaps; road safety; traffic management, road traffic information and new communications technologies. Statistical analyses oftrends in traffic andinvestment are publishedyearlyby the ECMT andprovide aclear indication of the situation in the transport sector in different European countries. As part of its research activities, the ECMT holds regular Symposia, Seminars and Round Tables on transport economics issues. Their conclusions are considered by the competent organs of the Conference under the authority ofthe Committee ofDeputies and serve as a basis for formulating proposals forpolicy decisions to be submitted to Ministers. The ECMT's Documentation Service is one of the world's leading centres for transport sector data collection. It maintains the TRANSDOC database, which is available on CD-ROM and accessible via the telecommunications network. For administrative purposes the ECMT's Secretariat is attached to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Publie en frangais sous le titre : 43e RAPPORT ANNUEL ACTIVITES DE LA CONFERENCE Documents approuves par le Conseil des Ministres des Transports en 1996 Further information about the ECMTis available on Internet at thefollowing address: http://www.oecd.org/cem/ © ECMT 1997 ECMTPublications are distributedby: OECD Publications Service, 2, rue Andre Pascal, F-75775 PARIS CEDEX 16, France. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . Part One ECMT ACTIVITIES ChapterI. ECMTPROGRAMME OFWORK 1996-1999(cid:9) 11 A. General Approach (cid:9) 11 B. ParticularActivities and Priorities(cid:9)24 ChapterII. INTEGRATION OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES(cid:9)37 ChapterIII. ACTIVITIES INPARTICULAR FIELDS (cid:9)57 A. Trends in International Traffic(cid:9)57 B. Railways (cid:9)58 C. Road Transport(cid:9)60 D. CombinedTransport(cid:9)61 E. Transport and theEnvironment (cid:9)62 F. Social Costs (cid:9)63 G. Road Safety and RoadTraffic Signs and Signals(cid:9)63 H. TransportforPeople with Mobility Handicaps (cid:9)66 ChapterIV. ECONOMIC RESEARCH, STATISTICS AND DOCUMENTATION(cid:9)69 A. Economic Research(cid:9)69 B. Statistics(cid:9)83 C. Documentation(cid:9)85 Chapter V. EXTERNAL RELATIONS (cid:9)89 Part Two TRENDS IN THE TRANSPORT SECTOR 1970-1995 Introduction (cid:9)93 TRENDS IN THETRANSPORT SECTOR INWESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES(cid:9)94 FreightTransport(cid:9)95 PassengerTransport(cid:9)100 RoadAccidents(cid:9)100 TRENDS INTHETRANSPORT SECTOR IN THE ECMT COUNTRIES INTRANSITION(cid:9)103 General Situation (cid:9)103 Freight Transport(cid:9)106 PassengerTransport(cid:9)109 Road Accidents(cid:9)110 Part Three REPORTS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORT IN 1996 Report onTraffic Trends, Infrastructure Developments andFinancing (cid:9)117 CoverNote on the Report on Traffic Trends, Infrastructure Developments andFinancing(cid:9)164 Report on the Multilateral Quota: Proposals for aDistribution ofthe Quota from 1 January 1997(cid:9)169 Report on theTaxation ofInternational Goods Transportby Road (cid:9)177 Declaration on the Transport ofLivestock(cid:9)208 SpeedModeration - Recommendations/Conclusions (cid:9)209 Declaration on Combined Transport(cid:9)213 Report on Interoperability and Noise fromRail Transport(cid:9)215 ANNEXES I. ECMT Organisation Chart (cid:9)225 II. Press Release after 80th Session ofthe Council ofMinisters in Budapest(cid:9)226 III. List ofECMT Membercountries showing the year ofaccession(cid:9)232 IV. List ofOfficers ofthe ECMT (cid:9)234 V. List ofDelegates atthe Budapest Session(cid:9)235 VI. List ofInternational Organisations with consultative status in ECMT(cid:9)248 VII. ResolutionNo. 1084 ofthe Council ofEurope on European TransportPolicies(cid:9)255 VIII. Report to the Governments' Parties to Eurofima's Convention(cid:9)258 INTRODUCTION For ECMT, 1996 was a significant year. For the first time, one ofour 'new' Member countries, Hungary, held the chairmanship of the organisation. Hungary became a Member of ECMT only in 1991 and quickly showed its ability not only to integrate but also to lead at international level. The preparation and organisation of the 80th Ministerial Session in Budapest illustrates how quickly and flexibly Hungary has adapted to the new circumstances. ECMT plays an important role in fostering dialogue and understanding across the Continent. In 1996, the geographic expansion of ECMT continued with the accession of Belarus, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (F.Y.R.O.M.) and Ukraine as full Member countries; Azerbaijan was granted observer status. At the end of 1996, ECMT has 34 full Member countries, 6 Associate Member countries and 5 Observer countries. Virtually all the countries on the European continent are now associated with the work of ECMT and the organisation is now being faced with making decisions on furtherextensions in the Caucasians andtowards Central Asia. The globalisation oftrade and economies are the driving forces forthis development and make closercontacts essential. A new work programme for the period 1996-1999 was adopted at the Ministerial Session in Budapest. This provides a clear framework for ECMT's activities over the next few years. The work programme emphasizes ECMT's mission as a political body and sets out priorities for activities. The priority activities are in integration, environment and road transport. Moreover, working methods are to be streamlined and more technical issues passed to appropriate bodies. This allows ECMT to focus on policy subjects of importance and to use flexible and varied methods to prepare material for Ministerial discussion and decision. The details and other decisions taken at the Budapest Ministerial Session are set outin Annex II. ECMT's working structures are set out in an Organisation Chart shown in Annex I. A numberofspecial events were held in 1996: A Special Round Table entitled "Transport Policy in an Enlarged Europe" was held in May 1996, its objective being to consider the appropriate components of a consistent framework for transport policy across Europe. The event was chaired by Mr. Boguslaw Liberadzki of Poland. Some of the issues addressed were the planning and financing of infrastructure; possible solutions to the problems of congestion caused by traffic growth; the safety and environmental impacts oftransport, and choosing appropriate policy instruments. See Chapter II for amore detailed presentation ofthis event. In response to the Council ofMinisters' request to examine criminal activity in international freight transport, the ECMT Secretariat organised a "Workshop on crime andfraud in the transportsector"in December 1996. It discussed two areas: the theft ofgoods and vehicles and assaults on drivers and fraud in transit procedures. It was clear action needs to be differentiated between short- and long-term measures. A first step would include the exchange ofinformation and streamlining ofprocedures between actors andbodies involved. A longer-term measure: the setting up of a centralised control system using electronic data interchange in accordance with the TIR Convention. "ECMTExpert Workshop on In-Car Technology and Driver Behaviour". This Seminar which took place in Delft, Netherlands in November 1996 discussed the likely costs and benefits of using in-car equipment to encourage drivers to behave in a more fuel efficient way. Research presented at the workshop from a number ofcountries suggests that potential fuel savings, of the order of 15%, can be achieved through driver training and the use of simple on-board instruments. International exchange of information will be valuable in developing policy. Co-operation between industry, governments, academics and drivers' organisations will help provide a useful set of guidelines for instrument and vehicle manufacturers. More information on this topic can be found in Chapter III, Transport and the Environment. Five Round Tables organised by the Economic Research Division took place in 1996. The topics were the following: "Daily Mobility: Can itbe reduced ortransferred to othermodes?" "The separation ofoperations from infrastructure in theprovision ofrailway services" "Polarisation ofEuropean logistical areas and new trends in logistics" "Infrastructure-induced mobility" "Intercity transportmarkets in countries in transition The conclusions ofthese Round Tables can be found in ChapterIV, Section A. Part One ECMT ACTIVITIES