UNECE - Transport Division - Legal Instruments

Legal instruments in the field of transport

Introduction

Since its creation in 1947, UNECE Inland Transport Committee, has been a framework for intergovernmental cooperation and concerted action in order to facilitate international transport while improving its safety and environmental performance. The main results of the quiet, unspectacular but persevering and useful work of the UNECE member Governments, acting together for almost five decades now within the framework of the Committee, are reflected in 57 international agreements and conventions which provide the international legal and technical framework for the development of international road, rail, inland waterway and combined transport in the UNECE region. These international legal instruments, some of which are applied also by countries outside the UNECE region, address a wide array of transport issues which fall under the responsibility of Governments and which have an impact on international transport. This includes coherent international infrastructure networks, uniform and simplified border-crossing procedures and uniform rules and regulations aimed at ensuring a high level of efficiency, safety and environmental protection in transport. These agreements and conventions, a large number of which are kept constantly updated, are legally binding for the States who become Contracting Parties to them. While these legal instruments are important to all European countries, both Western and Eastern, they appear to be today of utmost importance for Governments of newly independent States who need to build their transport regulations in line with those existing in the other European countries. Additionally they are applied by a large number of countries world wide. They are, therefore, a major European legacy to the whole international community. The list of the 56 UNECE Agreements and Conventions in the field of transport, as well as summary tables containing information on the status of these international legal instruments with regard to signatures, ratifications, accessions and acceptances by countries members of the United Nations, is reproduced below.

Summary List of International UNECE Transport Agreements and Conventions

Transport Infrastructures

1. Declaration on the Construction of Main International Traffic Arteries, of 16 September 1950
           English/French   Contracting Parties

2. European Agreement on Main International Traffic Arteries (AGR), of 15 November 1975
           English     French     Russian (Consolidated text 2008) Contracting Parties

           Map of 'E' Roads (2007)

3. European Agreement on Main International Railway Lines (AGC), of 31 May 1985
           English   French   Russian   Contracting Parties

    - Annex 1 (updated as of 6 August 2004)
           English   French     Russian

4. European Agreement on Important International Combined Transport Lines and Related Installations (AGTC), of 1 February 1991
           English     French     Russian     Contracting Parties

5. Protocol on Combined Transport on Inland Waterways to the European Agreement on Important International Combined Transport Lines and Related Installations (AGTC) of 1991, of 1997
           English     French     Russian     Contracting Parties

6. European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN), of 19 January 1996
           English/French/Russian       Contracting Parties

Road Traffic and Road Signs and Signals

7. Convention on Road Traffic, of 19 September 1949
           Contracting Parties     Vehicle Signs in International Traffic

8. Convention on Road Traffic, of 8 November 1968 (2006 consolidated version) - Hard copy
           Arabic     Chinese     English     French     Russian     Spanish     Contracting Parties
           Vehicle Signs in International Traffic

         Amendments which entered into force on 28 March 2006
           English     French      Russian

Amendment 1 only (entered into force on 3 September 1993)
English French Russian

         Convention on Road Traffic, of 8 November 1968 (1993 consolidated version)
           English     French      Russian

         Chinese and Spanish versions of original unamended Convention

9. European Agreement supplementing the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic, of 1 May 1971 (2006 consolidated version) - Hard copy
English French Russian Contracting Parties

European Agreement supplementing the 1968 Convention on Road Traffic, of 1 May 1971
English/French Russian

Amendment 1 only (entered into force on 28 August 1993)
English/French/Russian

Amendment 2 only (entered into force on 27 Janvier 2001)
English/French/Russian

Amendments which entered into force on 28 March 2006
English French Russian

10. Protocol on Road Signs and Signals, of 19 September 1949
English/French/Spanish Contracting Parties

11. Convention on Road Signs and Signals, of 8 November 1968 (2006 consolidated version) - Hard copy
Arabic Chinese English French Russian Spanish Contracting Parties

Corrigendum to the amendments which entered into force on 28 March 2006
English French Russian

         Amendments which entered into force on 28 March 2006
           English     French      Russian

         Convention on Road Signs and Signals, of 8 November 1968 (amended version)
           English     French      Russian      Annex 1     Annex 2

         Amendments which entered into force on 30 November 1995
           English     French      Russian

           Chinese and Spanish versions of original unamended Convention

12. European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals (1968), of 1 May 1971

E/ECE/812	English/French	Contracting Parties
E/ECE/812	Russian
E/ECE/812/Amend.1	English/French/Russian

Amendment which entered into force on 28 March 2006
English French Russian

13. European Agreement on the Application of Article 23 of the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic concerning the Dimensions and Weights of Vehicles Permitted to Travel on Certain Roads of the Contracting Parties, of 16 September 1950
            English followed by French version      Contracting Parties

14. European Agreement supplementing the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic and the 1949 Protocol on Road Signs and Signals of 16 September 1950
           English/French   Contracting Parties

15. European Agreement on Road Markings, of 13 December 1957
            English text, followed by French text        Contracting Parties

16. Protocol on Road Markings, Additional to the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, of 1 March 1973
          English/French       Contracting Parties

          Amendment which entered into force on 28 March 2006
          English     French      Russian

17. Agreement on Minimum Requirements for the Issue and Validity of Driving Permits (APC), of 1 April 1975
           English     French      Russian     Contracting Parties

Road Vehicles

18. Agreement concerning the Adoption of Uniform Technical Prescriptions for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and /or be used on Wheeled Vehicles and the Conditions for Reciprocal Recognition of Approvals Granted on the Basis of these Prescriptions, of 20 March 1958
           English     French      Contracting Parties

19. Agreement concerning the Adoption of Uniform Conditions for Periodical Technical Inspections of Wheeled Vehicles and the Reciprocal Recognition of Such Inspections, of 13 November 1997
           English     French       Contracting Parties

20. Agreement concerning the Establishing of Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts which can be fitted and / or be used on Wheeled Vehicles, of 25 June 1998
           English/French/Russian     Contracting Parties

Other Legal Instruments related to Road Transport

(a) Working Conditions

21. European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles engaged in International Road Transport (AETR), of 1 July 1970 (Consolidated text dated 2006)
           English     French    Russian Contracting Parties

      Appendix 1B of the Annex to the AETR (Concerning Digital Tachograph)
           English     French     Russian

      Amendment introducing the digital tachograph, entered into force on 16 June 2006
           English     French     Russian

Amendment 4 to the AETR
English/French

(b) Taxation

22. Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles for Private use in International Traffic, of 18 May 1956
           English/French        Contracting Parties

23. Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles engaged in International Passenger Transport, of 14 December 1956
           English/French        Contracting Parties

24. Convention on the Taxation of Road Vehicles engaged in International Goods Transport, of 14 December 1956
           English/French         Contracting Parties

25. Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), of 19 May 1956
           English     French     Russian     Contracting Parties

26. Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), of 5 July 1978
           English     French     Russian     Contracting Parties

27. Additional Protocol to the CMR concerning the electronic consignment note (e-CMR) - open for signature at United Nations Headquarters in New York until 30 June 2009 inclusive
           English (authentic language)     French (authentic language)    Russian (translation)     Signatories

28. Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Passengers and Luggage by Road (CVR), of 1 March 1973
           English     French     Russian     Contracting Parties

29. Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Passengers and Luggage by Road (CVR), of 5 July 1978
           English/French/Russian    Contracting Parties

(d) Economic Regulations

30. General Agreement on Economic Regulations for International Road Transport, of 17 March 1954
English/French Contracting Parties

Inland Water Transport

31. Convention relating to the Unification of Certain Rules concerning Collisions in Inland Navigation, of 15 March 1960
           English/French/Russian/German     Contracting Parties

32. Convention on the Registration of Inland Navigation Vessels, of 25 January 1965
           English     French/Russian     Contracting Parties

33. Convention on the Measurement of Inland Navigation Vessels, of 15 February 1966
           English     French/Russian     Contracting Parties

34. Convention relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Inland Navigation Vessels (CLN), of 1 March 1973
           English/French/Russian     Contracting Parties

35. Protocol to the Convention relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Inland Navigation Vessels (CLN), of 5 July 1978
           English/French/Russian     Signatory

36. Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Passengers and Luggage by Inland Waterway (CVN), of 6 February 1976
           English/French/Russian/German     Contracting Parties

37. Protocol to the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Passengers and Luggage by Inland Waterways (CVN), of 5 July 1978
           English/French/Russian/German     Signatory

Border Crossing Facilitation

38. Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring, signed in New York on 4 June 1954
           English     French    Contracting Parties

39. Additional Protocol to the Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring, relating to the importation of tourist publicity documents and material, signed in New York on 4 June 1954
           English     French    Spanish    Contracting Parties

40. Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Private Road Vehicles, signed in New York on 4 June 1954
           English     French     Russian     Annexes (E/F only) Contracting Parties

41. Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention), of 15 January 1959
           Contracting Parties

42. Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets (TIR Convention), of 14 November 1975
           English     French     Russian     Contracting Parties

43. Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation for Private Use of Aircraft and Pleasure Boats, of 18 May 1956
           English     French     Contracting Parties

44. Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Commercial Road Vehicles, of 18 May 1956
           English     French     Russian     Annexes (E/F only) Contracting Parties

45. International Convention to Facilitate the Crossing of Frontiers for Passengers and Baggage carried by Rail, of 10 January 1952
           English     French     Russian     Contracting Parties

46. International Convention to Facilitate the Crossing of Frontiers for Goods Carried by Rail, of 10 January 1952
           English     French     Russian     Contracting Parties

47. Customs Convention concerning Spare Parts Used for Repairing Europ Wagons, of 15 January 1958
           English     French     Contracting Parties

48. Customs Convention on Containers, of 18 May 1956
           Contracting Parties

49. Customs Convention on Containers, of 2 December 1972
           English     French     Spanish     Contracting Parties

50. European Convention on Customs Treatment of Pallets Used in International Transport, of 9 December 1960
           English     French     Contracting Parties

51. International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods, 21 October 1982
           English     French     Russian    Contracting Parties

52. Convention on Customs Treatment of Pool Containers Used in International Transport, 21 January 1994
           Arabic    Chinese    English     French     Russian     Spanish     Contracting Parties

Transport of Dangerous Goods

53. European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), of 30 September 1957
           English (text without Annexes) Annexes A and B
           French (text without annexes) Annexes A et B;
           Russian (text without Annexes) Annexes A et B
           Contracting Parties

54. Protocol amending article 1 (a), article 14 (1) and article 14 (3) (b) of the European Agreement of 30 September 1957 concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), of 28 October 1993
           English     French    Russian   Contracting Parties

55. Convention on Civil Liability for Damage caused during Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, Rail and Inland Navigation Vessels (CRTD), of 10 October 1989
           Contracting Parties

56. European Agreement Concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterway (ADN), of 25 May 2000
           English (text without Annexes) Annexed Regulations
           French (text without Annexes) Annexed Regulations
           Russian (text without Annexes) Annexed Regulations
           Contracting Parties

Transport of Perishable Foodstuffs

57. Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be Used for such Carriage (ATP), of 1 September 1970
English French Russian Contracting Parties

Status of UNECE Transport Agreements and Conventions

Status of UNECE Transport Agreements and Conventions (English / French / Russian) with regard to signatures, ratifications, accessions and aceptances by countries members of the United Nations

More detailed and up-to-date information with regard to the date of signatures, ratifications, accessions, reservations and declarations made by the various countries; and as well as the complete text of the agreements and conventions and amendments thereto may be obtained from United Nations publication "Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary General".

For any further comments or information, please contact:

Ms. Eva Molnar (Director),
UNECE Transport Division
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 GENEVA 10

Tel: + 41-22-917-24-00
Fax: + 41-22-917-00-39