LEADS SEMINAR Canberra, Australia 19 July 2007

LEADS SEMINARCanberra, Australia

19 July 2007

« Reforming an international organisation: developing a global approach to major transport issues»

Jack ShortSecretary General

International Transport Forum

www.internationaltransportforum.orgwww.cemt.org

ECMT

• Set up in 1953 as an International Organisation with its own protocol

• Origin was in follow-up to Marshall Plan and OEEC – predecessor of OECD

• Originally 19 MembersUnited States & Canada given Associate Status

• For Transport Ministers

• Surface transport only

ECMT

• Objective was to rebuild European Transport System

• Political counterweight to UN(ECE)

• Small Secretariat/ Country led

ECMT

• A strong political role (before EU)

• But no enforcement mechanism for recommendations

• Economic Research set up in 1970

– Round Tables started

ECMT

• A strong political role (before EU)

• But no enforcement mechanism for recommendations

• Economic Research set up in 1970

– Round Tables started

• ‘Think Tank’ role became more prominent

ECMT

• The fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 gave a new role

• Membership doubled in 1990’s to 44 European Countries

• Work focussed on Integration of East/West Europe

• In parallel, in 1967 OECD set up the Road Transport Research Programme in the OECD

– Technical, mainly involving road engineers

– Non Europeans often wanted more policy orientation

– But regular difficulties with ECMT

ECMT

• With the accession of 10 Countries to the EU in 2004,European role weakened for ECMT

OUTPUTS INCLUDED

• Data

OUTPUTS INCLUDED

• Data

• Reports

OUTPUTS INCLUDED

• Data

• Reports

• Recommendations and Resolutions

– e.g. 30 Recommendations on:• Safety• Accessibility• Security• Environment

Reviews of the role of ECMT

• Review 2001-2003: Conclusions

– Move to more global issues

– Strengthen links outside Europe

– Merge ECMT’s economic research and OECD’s Road Transport Research

– Maintain structures and European focus

• Review 2005-2006: Germany takes a lead

– Wants more dramatic change

– ECMT becoming irrelevant

– Transport not getting enough attention in politics or media

– New structures and role

Reviews of the role of ECMT

ECMTInternational Transport Forum Dublin Declaration:

• Create a Global Forum for Transport with– Ministers– Industry– Civil Actors

• All modes, all OECD Countries and China/Brasil & India

• One theme per year– 2008: Climate Change– 2009: Globalisation

• One place: LEIPZIG

• Strengthen communications

• Reform all internal structures

Challenges Ahead

• Institutional/Structural/Financial

• Generate interest and maintain it for all Members

• Get real dialogue

• Find appropriate outputs

LEADS SEMINARCanberra, Australia

19 July 2007

« Reforming an international organisation: developing a global approach to major transport issues»

Jack ShortSecretary General

International Transport Forum

www.internationaltransportforum.orgwww.cemt.org