Smooth Trade – Major Component of the TRACECA Future

Left: Mr. Mircea Ciopraga, TRACECA Secretary General; Right: Mrs. Oksana Reuter, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure on European Integration

During the meeting Mr. Mircea Ciopraga, TRACECA Secretary General discussed the expediency issues of transformation of TRACECA into an international organization as well as financing of the TRACECA Programme and technical assistance projects by the EU. With the view of comprehensive elaboration of TRACECA development strategies Mr. Ciopraga emphasized the necessity of creating a Working Group to include the Ukrainian experts.

Mrs. Reuter pointed that today all member states of the EU “Eastern Partnership” initiative are at the same time TRACECA participants. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia ratified the Association Agreements and in the near future they will enjoy free trade regime with EU. She emphasized that these issues should be taken into account in shaping the future of TRACECA.

During the discussion the Ukrainian Party suggested that they would consider the possibility of the TRACECA corridor extension to the West by inviting to the dialogue of potentially interested EU member states, as well as the inclusion of the TRACECA route in the maps of priority routes of the Eastern Partnership. Deputy Minister underlined the significance and urgency for Ukraine the continuation of the regional EU technical assistance projects for the TRACECA member states attracting experts from such organizations as Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), subject to the country’s needs.

Mrs. Oksana Reuter expressed its readiness to put forward to Mr. Ciopraga and TRACECA Secretariat and the suggestions of the Ukrainian Party regarding the implementation of such projects in the field of railway, maritime and road transport.  

Under new economic conditions Ukraine is open for new initiatives on development of transport communication in the direction Europe-the Caucasus-Asia, as the transport road complex of our state can fully satisfy the needs in transit cargo traffic in this direction.