Consolidated text of the Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be used in such carriage (ATP) made in Geneva on September 1, 1970, updated as of September 23, 2013.
Published in: «BOE» No. 274, November 15, 2013, pages 91311 to 91390 (80 pages).
Section: I. General provisions
Department: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Reference: BOE-A-2013-11936
UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (UNECE)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations under the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN. It was established in 1947 with the purpose of helping to rebuild post-war Europe, develop economic activity, and strengthen economic relations between European countries, but also between Europe and the rest of the world. During the Cold War, the UNECE served as a unique platform for dialogue and economic cooperation between East and West. Despite the complexity of this period, significant results have been achieved through consensus on numerous harmonization and standardization agreements.
After the Cold War, the UNECE not only gained numerous new member states but also new functions. Since the early 1990s, it has focused its activities on analyzing transition processes, leveraging its harmonization experience to facilitate the integration of countries in Central and Eastern Europe into the global economy.
The UNECE is the forum where countries from Western, Central, and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and North America—56 countries in total—meet to forge instruments for their economic cooperation. This cooperation relates to economic, statistical, environmental, transportation, trade, sustainable energy, the timber sector, and habitat issues. The Commission provides a regional framework for the development and harmonization of conventions and standards. Commission experts provide technical assistance to countries in Southeast Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. This assistance is provided through advisory services, training seminars, and workshops where countries can exchange experiences and best practices.
Transport in the UNECE
The Committee on Inland Transport (CIT) of the UNECE contributes to facilitating the international movement of people and goods in various modes of inland transport. Its objective is to improve competitiveness, safety, energy efficiency, and protection measures in the transport sector.
At the same time, it pays special attention to reducing the negative impact associated with transport activities on the environment and strives to effectively contribute to sustainable development.
The CIT serves as:
- A center for the standardization and management of multilateral treaties related to transport on both a European and global scale, such as in the areas of the transportation of dangerous goods and the construction of road transport vehicles.
- A portal for technical assistance and the exchange of best practices.
- A promoter of multilateral investment planning.
- A key partner in initiatives to facilitate trade and transport.
- A historical center for transport statistics.
For over sixty years, the CIT has served as an intergovernmental cooperation platform to facilitate and develop international transport, while also improving its safety and environmental performance. The main results of this persistent and outstanding work are reflected in over fifty international conventions and agreements, which provide an international legal framework and a set of technical regulations for the development of international transport by road, rail, inland waterways, and intermodal transport, as well as for the transportation of dangerous goods and the construction of vehicles.
Given the needs of the transport sector and its regulatory bodies, the UNECE proposes a balanced approach, addressing both logistics and safety aspects in transport.