under the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus infection pandemic
On November 24, 2020, in Baku, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the regular Meeting of Permanent Representatives (National Secretaries) of the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA was held via web-conferencing, in the framework of which the participants of the Meeting approved the text of the Harmonized Conditions for the Transport of Goods under the spread of the coronavirus infection pandemic (COVID-19) and recommended for the Permanent Representatives (National Secretaries) to assist in the implementation of their provisions.
I. EXPORT-IMPORT TRANSPORT
In order to create favourable conditions for export-import freight traffic by road between the countries, the Parties recommended to:
1. Create equal and non-discriminatory conditions at the state border crossing points for drivers of road cargo vehicles, regardless the vehicle’s registration country or the driver's nationality;
2. Provide timely information in case of amendments to the national requirements for providing documents or procedures during the state border crossing for entry into the country (information on on the state of emergency) available on the official website of the relevant state body with mandatory notification of the neighbouring countries and the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA;
3. Ensure the observance of sanitary and hygienic norms by drivers at border crossing points;
4. Organize the interaction of control medical services of the neighbouring border crossing points to exchange the results of health screening of drivers, the compliance with the quarantine deadlines by drivers, and so on;
5. Ensure the recognition of test results of laboratories accredited by the authorized bodies of the Parties in the field of public health or documents issued by the medical institutions of the Parties authorized to carry out the appropriate tests for COVID-19 virus infection;
6. In case of prohibition or restriction of entry to the country, including through the temporary quarantine:
- provide an alternative possibility for unloading / loading cargo at nearby specialized freight terminals or replacing the cargo vehicle;
- calculate the period of 14/15 days from the start of transportation from the place of departure;
7. Examine the possibility of tests of drivers to COVID-19 infection;
8. Take measures to accelerate the control procedures at the border for essential goods such as food, vital medical and protective equipment and materials;
9. Consider the possibility of temporary relaxation of the requirements regarding The possibility of extending the validity of permit documents, including transport permits (entry/exit to/ from the country), documents of drivers (ATP) and vehicles (inspection and ECMT certificates of conformity) for a period of time determined by a reasonable period of transportation under force majeure circumstances associated with restrictive quarantine regimes;
- violations related to the current situation in the world, as well as to the punishment applied.
II. TRANSIT TRANSPORT
In order to create favourable conditions for the smooth transit of freight by road transport, the Parties recommended to:
1. Create equal conditions at the state border crossing for drivers of road cargo vehicles, regardless the vehicles’ registration country or the driver's nationality;
2. Take appropriate measures to ensure transit transport of goods through the territory of the country, creating special stopping points on the main transit routes (providing for the possibility of refuelling road cargo vehicles, making payments for road tolls, as well as the purchase of personal supplies, food, services, personal hygiene items, etc.), envisaging a round-the-clock schedule for their functioning;
3. Establish a "green corridor" for road vehicles carrying humanitarian aid, essential goods such as food, vital medical and protective equipment and materials;
4. In case of making amendments to the national requirements for providing documents or state border crossing procedures to move through the country or amendments to the transit transport requirements, ensure the availability of the amended requirements for providing documents at the border on the official website of the relevant state body with mandatory notification of the countries and the Permanent Secretariat of the IGC TRACECA;
5. Not to apply the quarantine measures with regard to drivers, limiting themselves to the vehicle disinfection and health screening, as well as reducing the time of stay in the country, in view of the time of transit cargo transportation from border to border, as well as stopping at specially designated points;
6. Consider the possibility of temporary relaxation of the requirements regarding the possibility of extending the validity of permit documents, including transit permits for transport of goods documents of drivers (ATP) and vehicles (inspection and ECMT certificates of conformity);
7. Take all necessary measures to prevent the congestion of road cargo vehicles at the borders of TRACECA countries, including congestion of road vehicles prior to entering the country (including congestion of road vehicles at checkpoints at the entrance to the country);
8. Provide access to appropriate medical care, if there is a suspicion or confirmation of infection of a cargo vehicle driver in the territory of country;
9. Recognise test results or documents issued by the medical institutions of the TRACECA countries where the appropriate tests for COVID-19 disease were performed;
10. For the countries that reduced the number of functioning border crossing points to consider the possibility to increase their number to allow passage of transit vehicles, ensuring compliance with sanitary-hygienic and epidemiological standards by drivers and / or persons accompanying the cargo at border crossing points .