EC/Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia FYROM agreement: transports

OBJECTIVE: Conclusion of an Agreement in the field of transport between the Community and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, including transit, transport by road and rail and combined transport. SUBSTANCE: The Agreement, initialled on 19 June 1996, provides for the development of new transport infrastructure on the north-south axis and on other routes in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and for the multimodal terminals involved. The Community would co-finance this work through a Protocol on financial cooperation which would expire on 31 December 2000 and link the two parties concerned. The new rail and combined transport infrastructures would take into account the protection of the environment, and accompanying measures would encourage the development of combined transport systems. As regards road transport, access for transit traffic would be completely free in both directions from the entry into force of the agreement. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia accepts that vehicles from the Community could travel freely in its territory in accordance with Community standards governing weights and dimensions until 31 December 2002. After this date, vehicles not conforming to Macedonian standards would be more heavily taxed. The Agreement also states that, from 1 January 1999, vehicles travelling from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia through Austria must conform to an ecopoints system, similar to that provided for in Protocol No 9 to Austria's Act of Accession to the European Union, from 1 January 1999. The aim of this system is to ensure that there is no discrimination between heavy goods vehicles from the Community and those from Macedonia. The Agreement lays down standards concerning gas emissions and the level of noise that was acceptable from heavy goods vehicles. Provisions simplifying the formalities involved in the transit of goods and encouraging customs cooperation were also included. The Agreement may, if appropriate, be extended at the request of a Member State or of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. A joint Committee would ensure that the Agreement was properly implemented. This is concluded for the period up to 31 December 2003 and may be tacitly renewed. The legal basis for the adoption of this Agreement is Article 75 of the Treaty establishing the European Community.