| 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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