leads seminar canberra, australia 19 july 2007 « reforming an international organisation:...
TRANSCRIPT
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