On 2-3 May 2006 in Sofia, Bulgaria, two consequent events, the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) TRACECA and the Second Ministerial Conference on Transport Co-operation between the EU and the Black Sea and Caspian Littoral States and their neighbours, were held.

This year the Republic of Bulgaria took over the Chairmanship in the Intergovernmental Commission of TRACECA from the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The Fifth Annual Meeting of the IGC TRACECA was officially opened by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Georgy Parvanov, who emphasized the significance of TRACECA corridor and priority of its development.

During the Meeting a number of important decisions concerning the IGC budget procedure were adopted. The IGC took decisions on budgetary and financial issues, as well as on the subjects of TRACECA GIS database and website. Euro 13.5 million worth Tacis/TRACECA Programme action plan 2006 was adopted by the IGC. A number of decisions on observer status and associated membership were also adopted to pave the way for future cooperation with interested parties.

The focal point of the TRACECA forum was the adoption of the IGC Strategy on Development of the Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia elaborated by the MLA Parties with the support of the European Commission. The IGC adopted a decision on the necessity of further activities regarding the prospects of its development as an international organization.

The members of the IGC elected Mr. Rustan Jenalinov as the Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA for the term of presidency of the Republic of Bulgaria on the IGC TRACECA.         Mr. Rustan Jenalinov earlier holding a leading position in the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan was introduced by the Republic of Bulgaria.

Open sessions of the IGC Meeting were attended by the representatives of international transport organizations, companies implementing the on-going TRACECA projects, heads of diplomatic missions and other official persons.