Legal Affairs and International Cooperation
The purpose of establishing railway contract law for international traffic is to ensure legal certainty, in particular by defining liability regimes.
Establishing railway contract law for international transport is OTIF’s traditional activity. This activity covers contracts for
the carriage of passengers (CIV Uniform Rules) and goods (CIM Uniform Rules), as well as contracts for the use of vehicles (CUV Uniform Rules) and infrastructure (CUI Uniform Rules).
In order to ensure the management and operation of the institutional system set up by COTIF, to ensure the development of uniform railway law and to maintain OTIF’s effective cooperation with actors in the sector, the General Assembly decided to set up an ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation for a period of three years (Sept. 2021 – Sept. 2024).
At its 16th session in September 2024, the General Assembly decided to renew the ad hoc Committee’s mandate for a period of six years up to 1 October 2030.
The ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation plays a key role in:
- the development of OTIF’s legal system, particularly the Convention itself and the four sets of uniform rules for various railway contracts;
- framing, developing and strengthening international cooperation with international organisations and associations.
However, it should be emphasised that only the General Assembly or the Revision Committee have the competence to amend the Convention itself and its Appendices.
For any further information, please contact the Legal Department: law@otif.org
Steve Davey
