Regional Meeting on Harmonization of Legal Instruments and Documentation for crossborder and Transit Transport by Road Bangkok, Thailand, 16-17 December 2015 Legal Instruments and Documentation of international road transport by Road in the Russian Federation
Bilateral Agreements of the Russian Federation All international road transport in Russia is made on the basis of bilateral agreements concluded between Russian Federation and more than 50 countries (in recent years were concluded new agreements with Switzerland, The Netherlands, Greece, Jordan, People Republic of Korea). Concerning these intergovernmental bilateral agreements on international road transport the transportation of goods and passengers are performed on the basis of permits, which are issued by the competent authorities of contracting parties (e.g. in Russia The Ministry of Transport of The Russian Federation).
Bilateral Agreements of the Russian Federation Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation reconsiders the basic conditions existing bilateral agreements. For example, we try to make amendments to intergovernmental agreement with Poland concerning of dutyfree fuel importation in vehicle tank and free transit provision. Also amendments are considered for agreements with Lithuania, Latvia and Finland in part of road charges induction, weight and dimensional values, etc.
Most essential requirements to bilateral agreements: every single transport operation demands permits (single-use permits); common quantity of issued permits should be accepted via bilateral negotiations (quota); cabotage restriction (making of internal transportation between two points in the territory of the other state is prohibited).
Types of permits In terms of the kind of transport single-use permits divided into: bilateral permits transit permits third countries permits special permits (for heavy, oversized and dangerous goods) These permits gives the right for one journey outward and return. Also it should be mentioned that in EuroAsian Economic Union bilateral and transit road transport between countries-members as well are made without permits.
Visa facilitation Visa facilitation for drivers should be considered as another barrier removal for road transport development. So, in CIS and Eurasian Economic Union visas for member-states are not required. According the Agreement between European Union and Russian Federation is provided the issuance of 5-year multi-entry visa for drives involved in mutual international road transport. The facilitation of visa regime with EU-countries includes: fixed term of staying 90 days in half-year; the national road association s application can be sufficient and substitute the official invitation; reduced list of submitted documents in consulate.
Ministry of Transport of The Russian Federation supports the work in multilateral level: Treaty of Eurasian Economic Union provides a coordinated transport policy and single transport control procedure. Nowadays several documents are developed for its implementation. Agreement between SCO countries on favorable conditions for international road transport was signed in 2014, ratified in Russia in 2015. It will foster the international road links development in SCO region using transit potential and vehicular network Draft of the Agreement between Russia, China and Mongolia on International Road Transport along the Asian Highways establishes main regulations and principles for road network development and facilitates road transport movements in the region.
Challenges and suggestions Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation as a competent authority takes necessary efforts to set priority issues in the field of international road transport market development: Protection of Russian carriers interests in multilateral and bilateral permits quota negotiating, taking into account the principle of parity with our foreign partners; Increasing of Russian carriers competitive ability on international road transport market; Removal of barriers related to customs and control procedures, restrictions on technical issues, etc.
Thank you for attention!