CONFÉRENCE EUROPÉENNE DES MINISTRES DES TRANSPORTS
EUROPEAN CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS OF TRANSPORTRESOLUTION No. 99/2 ON REMOVAL OF OBSTACLES AT BORDER CROSSINGSFOR INTERNATIONAL GOODS TRANSPORT[CEMT/CM(99)3/FINAL]

The ECMT Council of Ministers of Transport, meeting in Warsaw on 19 and 20 May, 1999:
HAVING REGARD to:−the Resolutions No. 50 of 1984 and No. 94/5 of 1994 on the removal of obstacles tointernational goods transport and to the follow-up reports [CEMT/CM(99)7 and8/FINAL] on the implementation of these Resolutions;−the relevant paragraphs of the Crete and Helsinki Declarations, in particular paragraph
C.3 of the Crete Declaration, stating:“The crossing of borders should be made progressively easier, until all unnecessary
obstacles to transport have been removed”.

EMPHASISING:−

that more effort is still needed to reduce waiting times at frontiers by all modes andresultant additional costs and inconvenience;−that continued long delays at border crossings can result in drivers and their lorries andtrains becoming targets for criminals and would-be clandestines.

REAFFIRMING that measures to facilitate border controls need to be taken for rail and inland
waterways transport as well as for road transport, but that the problems and solutions aredifferent in each case.
BEARING IN MIND:−

the continuing rapid expansion of goods and passenger traffic between Western Europe
and the emerging economies of Central and Eastern Europe and the resultant pressure on
existing border crossings, particularly at the external frontier of the European Economic
Area (EEA);−

the fundamental need to provide training for drivers which is geared to the requirementsof international transport;−

the need for authorities to apply appropriate customs and immigration controls to prevent
fraudulent cross-border activities and clandestine entry;−

the need for close co-operation between authorities and the business community, so thatthe needs and constraints of each side can be understood and dealt with efficiently.

TAKES NOTE:−

that significant progress has been achieved in abolishing frontier controls since theadoption of ECMT Resolution No. 94/5 through the completion of the EC Single Market
and the establishment of the EEA;−

that substantial progress has been made by ECMT Member Countries in Central andEastern Europe - both unilaterally and or in co-operation with neighbouring countries in identifying and tackling border crossing difficulties;−

that the international funding framework now in place is sufficient to address the mostimportant infrastructure constraints;−

that existing conventions governing international transport, including those developed byUN/ECE, already provide the framework within which to overcome present problems;−that the rate of further progress will be dependent on the political will of the responsible
Governments (e.g. establishment of joint customs clearance procedures);−that despite efforts made since 1995, there are still many border crossings where delays
remain the norm.

DECIDES to re-affirm the commitments made under the ECMT Resolution No. 94/5 on the removalof obstacles to international goods transport.
RECOMMENDS:
In regard to railways:−that railways take prompt action to reduce delays in international freight services as far
as is cost effective and in accordance with internationally agreed targets under theUN/ECE agreement on international combined transport (AGTC, where 30 minutes isforeseen as the maximum border stop) and UN/ECE Resolution 248 on the borderstopping time of shuttle trains (which sets a maximum limit of 60 minutes);−that efforts should be made to transfer, as far as possible, non-railway procedures (suchas customs formalities) to origin and destination stations instead of borders;−that where customs inspections remain at borders these should be done jointly by theauthorities of the two countries concerned;−

that Governments increase the management independence of railway companies inregard to their international operations in the broadest sense so that decisions related to
improving border crossing operations (e.g. rationalising marshalling operations, merging
marshalling yards on either side of borders, purchasing multi-current locomotives, ordual gauge rolling stock, building track or transhipment stations, etc.) can be made on acommercial basis in an international market environment;−that in the case of Governments that continue to exercise control in the management ofrailway operations, they should seek to eliminate shunting and marshalling as far as
possible at all points en route (not only at borders);
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−that all Governments consider possible roles for co-ordinating railways and providing
support to railways in developing adequate integrated information technology systems
for transmitting data between networks.

In regard to road transport:
Competent authorities:−

that where delays have been identified, Member States should declare a target reductionof existing waiting and processing times, to start with a 50% reduction of average timewithin 1 - 2 years, with the overall objective of a target of no more than 1 hour within 5years. Targets should also be set for reducing peak waiting times. These targets should
be widely/publicly disseminated to customers;−that Member Countries should strengthen their efforts to further harmonise and simplify
the procedures for checking vehicles and goods, either by multilateral or bilateralagreements, at border points;−

that all Member States should work towards simplification of the categories of taxes,
fees and duties charged at border crossings and ensure transparency in their application,
so as to provide an integrated border service;−that Member States should establish clear functional divisions and co-ordination between
the operatives representing the various authorities at border crossings so as to avoid
duplication of checks and procedures and should limit the authorities present at borders
to those concerned with customs and border controls. In this regard the appointment of aborder manager could be considered;−that Member States should be aware of the risks and take appropriate steps to avoid
illegal practices at borders.

Customs authorities:−

that Customs procedures be further streamlined, including through a simplification of thedocumentation package for transit freight, for the majority of vehicles passing throughborder posts;−

that ECMT Member States which share a border should co-operate at a bilateral levelwith the aim of establishing jointly run border crossings, joint customs clearance, or theoperation of juxtaposed controls;−

that, where they do not do so already, Member States should adopt risk-analysis andselectivity techniques (RAS) in order to ensure effective targeting of vehicles fordetailed checking.

In regard to combined transport:−

that, as far as combined transport operations are concerned, and in conformity withdecisions already taken, especially in Copenhagen [CEMT/CM(98)15/FINAL],
provisions are taken for carrying out, as far as possible, customs and border control
operations (including veterinary and phytosanitary controls) at the points of loading andunloading. This would speed up combined transport operations, achieve shorter delivery
times and make reliable combined transport schedules possible.
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Generally:
Authorities responsible for funding:−that international infrastructure investment should be linked to implementation ofprocedural reforms and waiting time targets;

Ministers of Transport:−that Ministers of Transport of ECMT Member Countries exercise as much influence aspossible, in co-operation with their relevant Ministerial colleagues, to take forward theserecommendations as a matter of urgency, with a view to achieving the removal of all
unnecessary obstacles to transport on priority corridors by the year 2005.

INSTRUCTS:−

the Committee of Deputies to monitor the implementation of this Resolution and toreport to the Council by 2003;−

The ECMT Secretariat to disseminate this Resolution widely and in particular to all
Authorities directly concerned.

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