01.11.2012
Rest assured that for your safety work has already started on the 2015 revision
11th General Assembly of OTIF met on 19/20 September 2012
01.10. 2012
The General Assembly, the highest body of OTIF, was convened in Geneva on 19/20 September under the chairmanship of Spain. For the first time, the General Assembly elected a French national, Mr. François Davenne, as Secretary General for the next term of office from 2013 to 2015.
The General Assembly also designated the members of the Administrative Committee, the administrative body of OTIF, which meets on a regular basis between the meetings of the General Assembly. The chairman of the Administrative Committee will be Mr. Franc Van der Steen from the Netherlands.
The General Assembly also decided that in view of the difficult budgetary situation in the Member States, OTIF’s budget should be stabilised in a way that allows it to carry out its functions in full throughout the next term of office. The General Assembly also took note of the activities that have been undertaken since its last session.
OTIF Committee of Technical Experts
01.06.2012
Committee of Technical Experts adopts during its 5th meeting the so-called “freight package“ (provisions on wagons and noise).
Georgia – 48th Member State of OTIF
01.05.2012
Because COTIF stands for promotion, improvement and facilitation
Seamless transport: making connections
30.04.2012
This year, under the chairmanship of Japan, leaders in the international transport policy scene will meet at the International Transport Forum Summit in Leipzig from 2 to 4 May. It is particularly gratifying that this year’s theme is at the heart of OTIF’s daily business.
If the political will is to promote trade and the long-distance transport of goods by rail between, for example, Europe and Asia, it is no secret that the competitiveness required in rail transport can only be achieved by making it reliable. The customer and the carrier must be able to rely not just on the delivery time, but also on being able to calculate reliably and predictably all the transport costs that will be incurred.
In rail transport, there is primarily a lack of transparency and legal certainty in the individual processing procedures at border crossings (especially at so-called “transit borders”). In this connection, an agreement under international law to formulate and promulgate the law transparently, where available, seems to be an economically interesting and natural first step in order to remove obstacles to border crossing in the shortest possible time.
This is precisely the task that COTIF imposes on the Secretary General of the Intergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail, OTIF.
Meet requirements and anticipate developments
09.03.2012
Secretary General at the CIT’s “Berner Tage”
One of the main trans-Caucasian arteries will be subject to the COTIF regime
On 1 July 2011, Armenia became the 47th member of OTIF
05.07.2011
The full effect of Armenia’s application of the Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF) will emerge in conjunction with the imminent accession of Armenia’s neighbours, Georgia and Azerbaijan. Thus in the Caucasus in the near future, there will be a firm basis providing the rail sector with invaluable legal certainty and a significant increase in the efficiency and competitiveness of rail freight transport.
OTIF’s Bulletin enters the electronic age
01.06.2011
The OTIF Secretariat today officially presented to the Administrative Committee the concept and layout of the Organisation’s new Bulletin, which from today will appear exclusively in an electronic format. OTIF’s electronic Bulletin can be ordered free of charge by sending an e-mail to Media(at)otif.org.
Legal certainty for Morocco and its neighbours
Gaps remain an EU speciality
On 28.04.2011 Morocco deposited its instrument ratifying the Vilnius Protocol with the Secretary General in Berne. Application of the uniform legal regime will mean significant simplification of international rail transport between Morocco and the neighbouring countries of Algeria and Spain
20.04.2011
On 20 April 2011 the Secretary-General of UNIDROIT and the Secretary General of OTIF issued a press release announcing the winning bidder in relation to the international tender process for the future international registry under the Luxembourg Rail Protocol.
After 15 months the EU returns to the negotiating table
05.04.2011
Accession to COTIF can now take place
EU’s pending accession to OTIF means convening an extraordinary General Assembly
06.01.2011
For the first time in OTIF’s history, an extraordinary General Assembly will be convened this year, brought about by the European Union as a result of its voting majority in the Administrative Committee at the end of November 2010 in Berne. This action is due to the European Union’s refusal to agree to the outcome of the negotiations reached between the European Commission and OTIF on the European Union’s accession to COTIF and its refusal subsequently to renegotiate some specific points. In particular, the EU’s request only to apply the Convention in future if there is no new EU legislation, which is very questionable in terms of international law, has blocked the accession process.
Ratification process “reloaded”
23.11.2010
Fine tuning of COTIF for EU Member States enters into force
OTIF in Berne sets the standard
16.11.2010
Work starts in a new Facilitation Committee for international rail traffic
Legal certainty in sight for the rail sector in the EU
06.08.2010
Non-application of the OTIF provisions on infrastructure, railway material and related approvals is no longer justified
From the Red Sea to the Black Sea
30.07.2010
Jordan becomes an Associate Member of OTIF from 1 August
09.07.2010
New edition of the Regulations concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail (RID). Enters into force on 1 January 2011
Montenegro: The Closing of the Balkan Gap
01.07.2010
The accession to OTIF will also prepare the railway sector for EU membership
ECM – Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
22.01.2010
Swiss Confederation committed to rail safety
Pictures