Participation of the PABSEC International Secretariat in the meetings of the BSEC Working Groups on Transport, Trade and Economic Development and Customs Matters, 16-18 November 2021
Ms. Milena Ljubinkovic, Secretary of the PABSEC Economic, Commercial and Financial Affairs Committee took part in several meetings of the BSEC Working Groups organized duringп 16-18 November 2021.
The meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Transport was organized online on 16 November 2021. It was attended by the representatives of the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hellenic Republic, Republic of Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Russian Federation, Republic of Turkey and Ukraine. The representatives of the Republic of Slovenia, the Union of Road Transport Associations in the BSEC Region (BSEC-URTA), and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) participated in the Meeting in the capacity of the BSEC Sectoral Dialogue Partners. The representatives of the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the Permanent Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Commission TRACECA participated in the Meeting as Guests. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ivan Tokatly, Chief Specialist of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine, as a representative of the Country-Coordinator of the BSEC. The Working Group approved the Plan of Action for the period of 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2022. The participants discussed the intensifying efforts regarding the implementation of the coordinated development of the Black Sea Ring Highway, as well as the state of affairs of the development of the Motorways of the Sea in the BSEC Region. Special emphasis was put on the importance of facilitation of road transport of goods in the BSEC region, project “BSEC Permit System” and the development of sustainable intermodal transport and logistics system in the region.
The Meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Trade and Economic Development was held online on 17 November 2021. It was attended by the representatives of the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bulgaria, Hellenic Republic, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Republic of Turkey and Ukraine, as well as the representative of BSEC-URTA as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Anil Evmez, EU Expert, Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Turkey. At the meeting, participants exchanged views on recent developments of economic and trade relations among the BSEC Member States, as well as the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of trade in the BSEC Region and ways of overcoming it. Matters such as setting up an information exchange mechanism on trade and economic issues in the BSEC Region, cooperation among the BSEC Member States in the sphere of electronic commerce and regional cooperation in sustainable development were also discussed.
The Meeting of the BSEC Working Group on Customs Matters was held online on 18 November 2021. It was attended by the representatives of the Republic of Armenia, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Moldova, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Russian Federation, Republic of Turkey, Ukraine, as well as the BSEC Observer- Arab Republic of Egypt, BSEC Sectoral Dialogue Partner- the BSEC-URTA. The representative of the International Road Transport Union participated in the meeting as a Guest. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Anil Evmez, EU Expert, Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Turkey. At the meeting participants exchanged views on the measures regarding the harmonization and simplification of customs procedures, as well as improving customs operations and control in respect of goods for personal use moved through international e-commerce.