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The aim of
the cooperation between the participating countries is the development of
main and ancillary infrastructures on Corridor X.
The development of the Corridor X should include maintenance,
reconstruction, rehabilitation, upgrading and new construction of main and
ancillary infrastructures as well as its operation and use with a view to
fostering the most efficient and environmentally friendly transport modes
(infrastructure and services). The co-operation furthermore aims at
perceiving and defining prerequisites and conditions for the most efficient
use of funds and know-how provided by public and private sources.
The Hellenic Ministry of Transport and Communications has inaugurated
the establishment of the Technical Secretariat of the Steering
Committee for Pan-European Corridor X during the 2nd Meeting of the
Pre-Steering Committee for Pan-European Corridor X, on November 26th 1999 in
Thessaloniki.
The role of the Technical Secretariat was to become active especially in the
collection and evaluation of data on Corridor X physical and operational
characteristics and the exploitation of all relevant studies and information
with respect to Pan-European Corridor X. The Technical Secretariat has
started officially its operations, according to the approved work programme on January 1st 2000.
Before the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting, on March 15th 2001, a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had been signed
by the Ministers of Transport of the Corridor X's countries. Greece (Ministry
of Transport and Communications) was elected to Chair the Steering Committee
until March 2004 towards the implementation of the MoU.
The extension of the Greek Chairmanship until March 2007 was decided during
the 6th Meeting of the Steering Committee (Thessaloniki, 27/2/2004), while during
the 9th Steering Committee meeting (Graz, 15/6/2007) its extension for three
more years (until June 2010) was agreed.
Concerning the optimization of the operation of Corridor X, during the 5th
Meeting of the Steering Committee (Bled, 18/7/2003) the constitution of a
Working Group for the improvement of Border crossings along Corridor X was
decided. Since then, the Group has met three times (January 2004, February
2005, November 2005), targeting to an agreement on a Protocol for cooperation
on border crossings issues. The Protocol on cooperation on border crossings
along Corridor X was signed by the Ministers of Transport of the
participating countries on June 16th 2006 in Corfu, and after the 8th
Steering Committee Meeting (Corfu, 15/6/2006). Greece (Ministry of Economy
and Finance) was elected to Chair the Steering Committee for three years
(until June 2009). Towards the implementation of the Protocol the Working
Group for the improvement of border crossings has met five times since the
signing of the Protocol, in December 2006, June 2007, February and December 2008
and January 2010. The Rules of Procedures and the Action Plan of the Working
Group have been approved by the Steering Committee
in its 9th meeting in Graz.
The latest meetings of the Steering Committee (11th meeting) and of the
Working Group for border crossings (8th meeting) took place in Belgrade on
January 21-22, 2010.
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