European Conference of Ministers of Transport Council of Ministers

Details of the activities to be included in the programme of work are set out below for each of the topics, most of which correspond to specific Working Groups. Under each topic, firstly stock is taken of the work carried out from 2000 to 2003 under the previous programme, before reviewing the issues likely to be the focus of ECMT concerns during the period 2004-2006 and discussing the most appropriate bodies and working methods for that work. 1. INTEGRATION Objectives ! Facilitate the integration of non EU member countries and act as a bridge between those countries and the EU. ! Assist these countries in the transition processus by helping them to adopt market economy reforms, introduce the required structural and institutional changes and achieve convergence with existing legal regimes. ! Contribute to the establishment of a paneuropean transport system in regard to both infrastructure and market operation. States has played an important role in bringing together new member countries from Central and Eastern Europe, CIS countries as well as older member states in order to exchange information, to conduct studies and reviews on particular topics, including: − work on strengthening market integration and reducing obstacles to international transport, − reviews on progress of legal harmonization and adjustment of transport systems in ECMT new member countries, − exchange of information on transport policy developments in member countries and at the Pan-European level, − discussions on infrastructure planning and financing, etc. During the last decade the group worked actively and has prepared a large number of reports, resolutions and recommendations and organised several Seminars and Conferences. lays down the framework for a pan-European transport policy. ECMT conducted a survey on the implementation of the Helsinki Declaration in ECMT member countries, and, a report, submitted at the Ministerial Council in Prague in 2000 [CEMT/CM(2000)15], describes progress, specific ECMT activities, remaining problems and ways forward. It showed that while several actions had been undertaken to implement the Declaration, many problems were still outstanding. A Transport Infrastructure Regional Study (TIRS) in the Balkans region, undertaken under the supervision of ECMT and financed by the French Government, was initiated in 2000. The Terms of Reference were prepared by ECMT in cooperation with the European Commission and EIB, as well as the summary note on the Transport in the Balkan Region [CEMT/CM(2000)17], presented a the ECMT Council of Ministers in Prague. The study started early 2001 …