TRACECA (acronym: Transport Corridor Europe-Caucasus-Asia) is an international transport programme involving 14 countries from the European Union, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia."TRACECA Member Countries", Traceca.org, accessed 30 January 2017 The programme aim is to strengthen economic relations, trade, and transport in the regions of the Black Sea basin, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia. It has a permanent Secretariat, originally financed by the European Commission, in Baku, Azerbaijan, and a regional office in Odesa, Ukraine.
Origins TRACECA was established in May 1993 in Brussels, upon the signing of a Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for the development of transport initiatives (including the establishment and development of a road corridor) between EU member states, Eastern European, Caucasus and Central Asian countries. The programme supports the political and economic independence of former Soviet Union republics through enhancing their access to European and global markets through road, rail and sea.Dekanozishvili, Mariam "The EU in the South Caucasus:By What Means, to What End?", Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, January 2004, accessed 30 January 2017 The objectives of TRACECA were underlined by the Baku Initiative of 2004, followed by a further ministerial conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2006.
Membership
The following states currently participate in the TRACECA program:
Iran officially joined TRACECA in 2009 after their request was accepted during a meeting held in Brussels."Iran joins TRACECA", UPI.com, 28 September 2009, accessed 30 January 2017 However, technical assistance has not been provided to Iran since 2010 due to EU sanctions.
Observer members In 1996, Mongolia was granted observer status. In 2009, Lithuania was granted observer status. In July 2016, Greece announced they were considering joining TRACECA activities as an observer.Hasanli, Azad. "Greece keen to join TRACECA", Trend news agency, 11 July 2016, accessed 30 January 2017 In March 2018, Greece was granted observer status during a meeting held in Yerevan.
International cooperation TRACECA has signed numerous Memorandums of Understanding and cooperation agreements with other international organizations, including the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program, Economic Cooperation Organization, European Civil Aviation Conference, International Road Transport Union, International Union of Railways, Organisation for Co‑operation between Railways, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.Memorandums List of MoUs and MoCs
In July 2023, it was announced that TRACECA would join the eTIR international system.
Secretary-General The Permanent Secretariat of TRACECA was established in March 2000 in Baku, and inaugurated on 21 February 2001, with the participation of the then President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, together with Javier Solana, Christopher Patten, Anna Lind. The Secretary-General is a chief executive officer of the Permanent Secretariat. The first Secretary-General elected by the Intergovernmental Commission was a representative of Georgia, ambassador Zviad Kvachantiradze.
The current Secretary-General is Asset Assavbayev, appointed by the Intergovernmental Commission in December 2019.
No. Secretary-General Dates in office Country of origin Ref1Zviad Kvachantiradze2000–2002"Former TRACECA Secretaries General" , Traceca.org, accessed 30 January 20172Abdurashid Tagirov2002–20033Lyudmila Trenkova2003–20064Rustan Jenalinov2006–20095Zhantoro Satybaldiyev2009–20116Eduard Biriucov2011–20147Mircea Ciopraga2015–2019"Mircea Ciopraga elected as TRACECA Secretary General for two-term period" , abc.az, 2 February 2015, accessed 30 January 20178Asset Assavbayev2019–presentSecretary General
Projects TRACECA has five working groups: maritime transport, aviation, road and rail, transport security, and transport infrastructure. Amongst its specific projects, was the creation of a new bridge to replace and protect the heritage Red Bridge, located between Georgia and Azerbaijan.European and Caucasian transport specialists discuss the prospects of cooperation, Armenpress, 19 November 2012, accessed 30 January 2017
See also Baku Initiative Eastern Partnership Euronest Parliamentary Assembly European integration Trans-Caspian International Transport Route Trans-European Transport Networks Transport in the European Union Transport in Europe
References
External links Official site