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Saatja: OTIF Legal Department <[email protected]> Saadetud: 05.08.2022 18:11 Adressaat: OTIF Legal Department <[email protected]> Koopia: Küpper Wolfgang <[email protected]>; Kuzmenko Aleksandr <[email protected]>; Gries Iris Petra <[email protected]>; Hiarlouski Vitali <[email protected]> Teema: Ad hoc Committee (JUR). LAW-22067-JUR 2- Notification of the results of the vote by written procedure Mesdames, Messieurs, Veuillez trouver en annexe la lettre circulaire : Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, Beiliegend erhalten Sie das Rundschreiben: Dear Madam, dear Sir, Please find enclosed the circular: LAW-22067-JUR 2 05.08.2022AUX ÉTATS MEMBRES ET MEMBRES ASSOCIÉS DE LOTIF ET AUX ORGANISATIONS RÉGIONALES AYANT ADHÉRÉ À LA COTIF 2e session de la Commission ad hoc sur les questions juridiques et la coopération internationale Point supplémentaire pour le programme de travail 2022-2024 Notification des résultats du vote par voie de procédure écrite du 11 juillet 2022 (LAW-22051-JUR 2) AN DIE MITGLIEDSTAATEN UND ASSOZIIERTEN MITGLIEDER DER OTIF UND AN REGIONALE ORGANISATIONEN, DIE DEM COTIF BEIGETRETEN SIND 2. Tagung des Ad-hoc-Ausschusses für Rechtsfragen und internationale Zusammenarbeit Zusätzlicher Punkt für das Arbeitsprogramm 20222024 Bekanntgabe der Ergebnisse der Abstimmung im schriftlichen Verfahren vom 11. Juli 2022 (LAW-22051-JUR 2) TO THE MEMBER STATES AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF OTIF AND TO REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS WHICH HAVE ACCEDED TO COTIF 2nd Session of the ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation Additional item for the 2022-2024 Work Programme Notification of the results of the vote by written procedure of 11 July 2022 (LAW-22051-JUR 2) Avec nos salutations distinguées Mit freundlichen Grüβen Yours faithfully Le département juridique du Secrétariat de lOTIF Das Sekretariat der OTIF Rechtsabteilung OTIF Secretariat - Legal Department Organisation intergouvernementale pour les transports internationaux ferroviairesZwischenstaatliche Organisation für den internationalen EisenbahnverkehrIntergovernmental Organisation for International Carriage by Rail Gryphenhübeliweg 30 CH-3006 Bern/Berne This e-mail and any attachments may contain privileged or confidential information and is intended exclusively for the use of the addressee. If you receive this e-mail in error, please contact the sender and promptly delete the material from your computer. Commission ad hoc sur les questions juridiques et la coopération internationale Ad-hoc-Ausschuss für Rechtsfragen und internationale Zusammenarbeit Ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation LAW-22067-JUR 2 05.08.2022 Original: EN TO THE MEMBER STATES AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF OTIF AND TO REGIONAL ORGANISATIONS WHICH HAVE ACCEDED TO COTIF Additional item for the 2022-2024 Work Programme Notification of the results of the vote by written procedure of 11 July 2022 (LAW-22051- JUR 2)  2 In accordance with Article 24 § 3, letter h) of the Rules of Procedure of the ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation, I hereby notify the results of the vote by written procedure of 11 July 2022 (LAW-22051-JUR 2). Total number of valid votes: 32. The quorum of 12 votes was reached. Result 1 of the vote on the inclusion of a new item 10 ‘Suspension and termination of COTIF and/or membership of OTIF with regard to a particular Member State’ in the ‘2022-2024 Work Programme’: Yes (in favour) No (against) Abstention BA, MK, NO, GB, CH, TR, — RS EU 2 Total number of votes: 31 Total number of votes: 0 Total number of votes: 1 In accordance with Article 24 § 1, letter b) of the Rules of Procedure of the ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation, the new item 10 was included in the ‘2022-2024 Work Programme’. Result1 of the vote on the priority of new item 10 in the ‘2022-2024 Work Programme’ High priority Medium priority Low priority Abstention MK, GB, CH, TR, EU2 BA, NO — RS Total number of votes: Total number of Total number of votes: Total number of votes: 29 votes: 2 0 1 In accordance with Article 24 § 1, letter b) of the Rules of Procedure of the ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation, the new item 10 in the ‘2022-2024 Work Programme’ was accorded high priority. The decisions taken on 4 August 2022 as a result of the vote by written procedure of 11 July 2022 (LAW-22051-JUR 2) are annexed. Yours faithfully, (Wolfgang Küpper) Secretary General Annex 1 For country codes used to present the results of the vote, see OTIF membership and application of appendices to COTIF 2 EU exercised the voting rights of its Member States under the Convention, i.e. it cast 25 votes.  Commission ad hoc sur les questions juridiques et la coopération internationale Ad-hoc-Ausschuss für Rechtsfragen und internationale Zusammenarbeit Ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation OTIF-22004-JUR 2 Original: FR DE EN 2E SESSION (PROCÉDURE ÉCRITE) / 2. TAGUNG (SCHRIFTLICHES VERFAHREN) / 2ND SESSION (WRITTEN PROCEDURE) Décisions 04.08.2022 Beschlüsse 04.08.2022 Decisions 04.08.2022  2 Par suite de la procédure écrite du 11 juillet Im Rahmen des schriftlichen Verfahrens vom Following the written procedure of 11 July 2022, la Commission ad hoc sur les questions 11. Juli 2022 beschloss der Ad-hoc- 2022, the ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs juridiques et la coopération internationale a Ausschuss für Rechtsfragen und and International Cooperation decided to add décidé d’ajouter un nouveau point 10 internationale Zusammenarbeit, einen neuen a new point 10 ‘Suspension and termination of « Suspension et extinction de la COTIF et/ou Punkt 10 „Suspendierung und Beendigung COTIF and/or membership of OTIF with re- de la qualité de membre de l’OTIF d’un État des COTIF und/oder der Mitgliedschaft in der gard to a particular Member State’ to its 2022- membre particulier » à son programme de OTIF eines Mitgliedstaats“ in sein 2024 Work Programme, as set out in the up- travail 2022-2024, tel qu’il figure dans la Arbeitsprogramm 2022–2024 aufzunehmen, dated version of the Work Programme at An- version mise à jour du programme de travail siehe beigefügte aktualisierte Fassung des nex. This new item was accorded high priority. en annexe. Une priorité haute a été accordée à Arbeitsprogramms. Diesem neuen Punkt ce nouveau point. wurde hohe Priorität zugewiesen.  3 ANNEXE – ANLAGE – ANNEX - LAW-22068-JUR 2 o Programme de travail 2022-2024. Mis à jour par suite de la procédure écrite du 11 juillet 2022 (4 août 2022) o Arbeitsprogramm 2022–2024. Im Rahmen des schriftlichen Verfahrens vom 11. Juli 2022 aktualisierte Fassung (4. August 2022) o 2022-2024 Work programme. Updated following the written procedure of 11 July 2022 (4 August 2022)  Commission ad hoc sur les questions juridiques et la coopération internationale Ad-hoc-Ausschuss für Rechtsfragen und internationale Zusammenarbeit Ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation LAW-22068-JUR 2 Original: EN 2022-2024 WORK PROGRAMME Updated following the written procedure of 11 July 2022 (4 August 2022)  2 I. LEGAL AFFAIRS A. MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT OF LEGAL INSTRUMENTS 1. Monitoring and assessment of implementation of COTIF Objective and scope of work. Assist the Secretary General in performing monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the Convention (Article 2 § 1 of document OTIF-21002-AG 15 ‘Decision on the monitoring and assessment of legal instruments’). Activities:  assess the degree of implementation of COTIF, including approval of amendments adopted at the 12th and 13th sessions of the General Assembly  assess information on the reasons for and necessity of maintaining reservations made in accordance with Article 42 § 1 of COTIF  consider and recommend follow-up actions. Priority: medium 2. Interfaces between customs and transport regulations: completed 3. The digitalisation of international transport, particularly freight transport documents Objective and scope of work. New technologies, digitalisation in particular, have the potential to change the organisation and management of railway transport. However, digitalisation brings both improvements and new challenges. The aim is to monitor and assess how digitalisation, and which specific aspects, should be supported and/or regulated by OTIF. Activities:  identify relevant stakeholders  monitor (carry out legal survey of) the usage of digital freight transport documents in the railway sector and the application of COTIF rules to such documents. The relevant regulatory practice of other international organisations and modes, as well as aspects linked to multimodality, should be considered as well  assess the application and relevance of COTIF rules on digital freight transport documents and, if necessary, propose follow-up actions (e.g. amendment of relevant provisions). Priority: high  3 4. Bill of lading Objective and scope of work. Consider introducing the possibility of using transport documents with a document of title function for the carriage of goods under the CIM UR. The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD) have recently started discussions on the necessity for and regulation of a bill of lading (transport document which is a document of title) in railway transport. Both organisations invite the OTIF Secretariat to take part in their respective meetings on the subject. Article 6 § 5 of the CIM UR states that ‘[t]he consignment note shall not have effect as a bill of lading’. More importantly, other provisions on the delivery of goods, the right to dispose of goods etc. confirm that the CIM consignment note is not a document of title. Activities:  consult OTIF’s members and relevant stakeholders on whether it is necessary to introduce the possibility of using transport documents with a document of title function under the CIM UR  follow up activities of UNCITRAL, OSJD, ICC and CIT on transport documents which are documents of title  if necessary, prepare modifications to the CIM UR. Priority: medium 5. Liability for loss or damage caused by a vehicle (Article 7 of the CUV UR) Objective and scope of work. Monitor and assess application of provisions on liability for loss or damage caused by a vehicle (Article 7 of the CUV UR). The 26th Revision Committee mandated the Working Group of Legal Experts to consider feedback from the sector on the application of Article 7 of the CUV UR and, if necessary, to examine a possible modification to this Article.1 Activities:  identify relevant stakeholders  monitor (carry out legal survey of) the application of Article 7 of the CUV UR. The relevant regulatory practice of other international organisations should be considered as well  assess the application and relevance of Article 7 of the CUV UR and, if necessary, propose follow-up actions (e.g. amendment of relevant provisions). Priority: medium 1 See point 13 of the 26th Revision Committee decisions on page 6 of the Minutes of the 26th session of the Revision Committee.  4 6. Movement of empty wagons Objective and scope of work. Monitor and assess application of COTIF rules to the movement of empty wagons.2 Activities:  identify relevant stakeholders  monitor (carry out legal survey of) the application of COTIF rules to the movement of empty wagons. Relevant regulatory practice in other international instruments should be collected as well  assess the application and relevance of COTIF to the movement of empty wagons and, if necessary, propose follow-up actions (e.g. amendment of relevant provisions). Priority: medium 7. Arbitration Objective and scope of the work. Assess whether the arbitration procedure in COTIF is actually necessary and, if necessary, propose modifications. Activities:  instruct the OTIF Secretariat to prepare an initial document on the arbitration procedure in COTIF 1999  consult stakeholders on whether the arbitration procedure in COTIF is actually necessary  consult stakeholders on possible improvements to the COTIF 1999 provisions on arbitration  draft proposals. Priority: low 8. Database of case law and bibliography Objective and scope of work. Set up a database of case law and bibliography relating to application of COTIF Activities:  develop a comprehensive structure for the database  develop a system for the collection of relevant case law and bibliography  prepare a decision on establishing the database and how it should be funded. Priority: medium 2 See discussions at the 26th Revision Committee on pages 16 – 17 of the Minutes of the 26th session of the Revision Committee.  5 9. Adoption, authentication, certified copies and publication of COTIF Objective and scope of work. Explain legal requirements with regard to the adoption, authentication, certified copies and publication of the Convention. Whenever useful, standardise and harmonise the relevant procedures of the General Assembly and the Revision Committee. Activities:  provide detailed explanations of the relevant OTIF rules in light of public international law  draft legally non-binding guidelines on the adoption and authentication of amendments to the Convention. Priority: high 10. Suspension and termination of COTIF and/or membership of OTIF with regard to a particular Member State. Objective and scope of work. Review OTIF and international law rules and relevant practice on suspension and termination of treaties and membership (including limitation of some rights). Activities:  determine and assess relevant OTIF rules and practice;  determine and assess relevant international law and practice;  if necessary, prepare modifications to COTIF and any other relevant OTIF rules. Priority: high B. LEGAL ADVICE 1. UNECE initiative on Unified Railway Law Objective and scope of work. Monitor the UNECE project concerning the unification of railway law Activities:  follow the development of the UNECE initiative on Unified Railway Law  issue advisory opinions on legal matters, if necessary Priority: low 2. Railway network access conditions and cross-border cooperation for the purpose of organising international rail transport Objective and scope of work. Develop a non-binding legal framework on railway network access conditions and cross-border cooperation for the purpose of organising international rail transport.3 The corresponding work should be concentrated along the following lines4:  defining access conditions (capacity allocation, infrastructure charges etc.) 3 See 7.15 of the final document of the 13th General Assembly and document SG-18041-AG 13/15 submitted to the 13th General Assembly. 4 These guidelines have been defined in part VI of document SG-18041-AG 13/15 submitted to the 13th General Assembly.  6  defining the scope of access (core infrastructure, including or excluding services facilities, whole network or certain lines, restrictions)  defining requirements for railway undertakings, infrastructure managers and the relationship between them (licence, civil liability insurance, safety certificate, contract of use etc.)  defining an appropriate legal form for the instrument and a mechanism for acceding to it (general application among all parties to the instrument or application only between states which have mutually agreed to apply it). Activities:  identify relevant stakeholders  carry out legal survey on  relevant existing international instruments and practices  possible content of OTIF’s instrument  draft a non-binding instrument. Priority: medium 3. Uniform contract for international train paths Objective and scope of work. Increasing the modal share of freight is inconceivable unless there is real fluidity in international traffic and, in particular, a simple mechanism for allocating train paths. Based on existing international rules, namely CUI UR, and following the model of the GCU contract based on CUV, a coordinated and uniform legal framework for using international train paths should be established by the sector, with the support of OTIF. 5 Activities:  identify relevant stakeholders  carry out legal survey on usage of international train paths, including identification of obstacles  identify possible and necessary OTIF measures to support usage of international train paths. Priority: medium 4. Use of gender-neutral language in OTIF Objective and scope of work. Introduction of gender-neutral language in OTIF legal instruments. Activities: - assess the feasibility of using gender-neutral language in OTIF’s legal instruments, the extent to which it should be used and the manner in which it should be used - issue recommendations on the use of gender-neutral language in OTIF’s legal instruments. Priority: medium 5 See N. Czernecki and F. Davenne. Towards a uniform contract for international train paths, Bulletin No. 1/2017, p. 18-20.  7 5. Use of electronic signatures in official communications between OTIF and its members Objective and scope of work. Examine the legal requirements for the use and acceptance of electronically signed documents (credentials, letters, approvals, reservations, depositary notifications etc.) in official communications between OTIF and its members. Activities: issue a recommendation on the use and acceptance of electronic signatures in official communications between OTIF and its members. Priority: medium 6. Application of the CUI UR to service facilities Objective and scope of work. Examine the issue of the application of the CUI UR to service facilities. In particular, it should be established whether the CUI UR apply and to what extent. Activities: issue an advisory opinion. Priority: medium  8 II. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION 1. Monitor and support cooperation with international organisations and associations Objective and scope of work. Monitor and enhance cooperation of OTIF with international organisations and associations, in particular those with direct responsibilities in the field of railway transport. Activities:  monitor international cooperation by the Secretariat  take decisions on cooperation with other international organisations and associations  establish and monitor joint contact groups. Priority : medium 2. Enhancing stakeholder involvement within OTIF Objective and scope of work. Develop an inclusive and transparent stakeholder involvement policy in order to promote COTIF, develop railway law and monitor and assess existing legal instruments. Activities:  prepare a recommendation on stakeholder involvement in OTIF organs (completed)  apply the recommendation in OTIF’s work (completed)  prepare guidelines on cooperation with international intergovernmental organisations. Priority: high 3. Handbook on COTIF and its implementation and application by international associations Objective and scope of work. Clarify the roles and responsibilities of international associations with regard to the implementation and application of COTIF, thus, promoting and facilitating the uniform implementation and application of COTIF. Activities:  identify relevant international associations  together with relevant international associations, jointly develop and approve a handbook on COTIF and its implementation and application  disseminate the handbook and organise a special event to promote it. Priority: medium  9 III. LONG-TERM STRATEGY Development of a long-term strategy Objective and scope of work. Assist the Secretary General in the preparation of a long-term strategy based on the decision of the General Assembly at its 15th session. Activities:  advise the Secretary General on strategic objectives  consider legal and international cooperation aspects in a draft long-term strategy and its subsequent implementation. Priority: high