Passenger Rights are a horizontal topic for all transport modes. Passengers are protected by a full set of rights – whether they travel by rail, ship or bus. Passenger rights are based on three cornerstones: non-discrimination; accurate, timely and accessible information; immediate and proportionate assistance. Passenger rights should be better implemented, clearer for both carriers and passengers, offer adequate assistance, reimbursement, possibly compensation when disruptions arise, and appropriate sanctions if the rules are not properly applied.

This study contributes to the fulfillment of the obligations derived from the Transport Community Treaty signed by the regional partners related to passenger rights in rail, road and waterborne transport, which are integral part of the Action Plan for Social Issues and Passenger Rights.

It also contributes to the improvement of the transposition and implementation of the passenger rights in the region and raises awareness of stakeholders, carriers and passengers regarding what the passenger rights entail.

This report presents key findings and progress in the implementation of 10 Flagships of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy in the Western Balkans. It also outlines conclusions which focus on the way forward and further actions to be taken by regional partners in the upcoming period.

The latest report highlights the efforts to align the Western Balkans and Observing Participants with EU and UN regulations on the transport of dangerous goods (TDG). These efforts are rooted in Directive 2008/68/EC, which governs the safe transport of materials posing potential risks, from flammable liquids to battery-powered equipment. The report underlines progress in raising awareness and enhancing cross-sectoral cooperation among Regional Partners. TAIEX programmes have been instrumental in addressing administrative and technical challenges, with Albania, Montenegro, and Kosovo* making notable advancements in implementing measures such as the 112 emergency number and eCall systems, which improve emergency response in the region.

Despite achievements, challenges persist. Nonetheless, regional partners have demonstrated a proactive approach through translation efforts, capacity-building workshops, and the adoption of advanced technologies. Collaboration with the European Commission, EU Member States, and international organisations like the European Emergency Number Association has fostered knowledge exchange and cross-sectoral synergies.

The Green Lanes Initiative has been established at the onset of COVID-19 pandemics. Following its highly successful implementation across the Western Balkans, the initiative for Green Lanes linking the EU and the Western Balkans, taken jointly by the Transport Community’s and CEFTA’s Secretariats, emerged as one of the priorities set by the Western Balkans Summit held in Sofia in 2020. Not only has its implementation ensured preserving trade flows in CEFTA, but it has also had significant economic benefits and proven invaluable in addressing the urgent needs of the population during the pandemic.

This report addresses the current stage of development of airport infrastructure in Western Balkans, airport compliance with TEN-T requirements, analyses passenger flows and ownership structure of the airports located on TEN-T Core and Comprehensive Network.

The general objective of the technical assistance is to contribute to the implementation of the Road Safety Action Plan committed to by the regional partners in the Western Balkans. This plan aims at reducing the number of serious injuries and road traffic deaths. The project should con-tribute to the improvement and harmonisation of road safety data collection and dissemination in the region – and hence support, update and enhance the Western Balkans Road Safety Obser-vatory (WBRSO).

Considering the ongoing impacts of climate change on our environment, the imperative to fortify our infrastructure against these effects has never been greater. This assignment’s key objective is to strategically prioritise vulnerable road and railway sections, criticality assessment and adaptation measures for future investments, specifically focusing on enhancing climate resilience.

Aligned with the decisions of the TCT Regional Steering Committee, the TCT Secretariat formulated the Annual Work Programme 2023. This report reflects the key activities and notable accomplishments spanning from 1 January to 31 December 2023.

Considering the ongoing impacts of climate change on our environment, the imperative to fortify our infrastructure against these effects has never been greater. This assignment’s key objective is to strategically prioritise vulnerable road and railway sections, criticality assessment and adaptation measures for future investments, specifically focusing on enhancing climate resilience.

Guided by the Terms of Reference, the entire project aligns with the sustainable development goals (SDG 13) of Climate Action outlined in the Global Agenda 2030 and the EU Green Deal. It concentrates on the existing indicative extension of TEN-T roads and railways networks in the Western Balkans region, encompassing both current and planned sections under development or part of mature projects in the Five-
Year Rolling Work Plan for the Development of the Indicative TEN-T extension. This network mirrors the core network established during the Prime Ministers meeting in Brussels in 2015.

All project actions comply with the Transport Community’s (TCT) Action Plans, involving in particular Road Action Plan (2020) and Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy for the Western Balkans (2021) published by the TCT Secretariat.

This report presents key findings and progress in the implementation of 10 Flagships of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy in the Western Balkans. It also outlines conclusions which focus on the way forward and further actions to be taken by regional partners in the upcoming period.

Transport of dangerous goods continues to be a focus in the activities of the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat, as goods classified as dangerous for transport purposes under the Directive 2008/68/EC on inland transport of dangerous goods. This Directive takes over the Annexes of the international agreements by road (ADR), rail (RID) and inland waterways (ADN) and applies them to domestic transport.

All Regional Partners and Observing Participants actively sought to comply with the key performance indicators outlined in the guidelines. However, challenges related to budgetary constrains and human resources limited success in this endeavour.

Under the provisions of Article 8 of the Treaty establishing the Transport Community, the Regional Steering Committee reports annually to the Ministerial Council on the implementation of the indicative trans-European transport network (TEN-T) extension of comprehensive and core networks to the Western Balkans.

The third edition of the Transport Community’s Annual Report and the first benefitting formally from the Transport Observatory Information System’s (TODIS) inputs marks another pivotal achievement in the TEN-T network monitoring process.

The objective of this report is to outline the progress achieved in implementing the Transport Community Permanent Secretariat’s (TCT Secretariat) Five Action Plans, as well as provide an overview, as reported by the Regional partners, on the transposition of ANNEX I of the Transport Community Treaty. This report provides the various stakeholders, relevant regional authorities, and other international  institutions with an objective perspective on the additional efforts and concrete measures taken, along with necessary future measures, including timeline and coordination mechanisms.

Regional partners and stakeholders have dedicated time and efforts to deliver and progress in all five sectors covered by the Action Plans: (i) Rail, (ii) Transport Facilitation, (iii) Road, (iv) Road Safety, (v) Waterborne Transport and Multimodality4. Specifically, these effort encompass rail market opening, facilitation of border/common crossing point procedures, infrastructure maintenance, developing an ITS strategic framework, and establishing the road safety observatory for the Western Balkans.

The aim of this report is to present the current situation on safety at level crossings (LCs) in the Western Balkans as well as to provide recommendations for improving protection at a certain number of LCs in the region.

In 2022, Transport Community commissioned 4icom Group to carry out a study on ‘Baseline Assessment and financial implication to e-tolling interoperability in Western Balkans’.

The objective of the study was to draw up an overview of electronic toll collection in the Western Balkans region and to assess the opportunity of setting up interoperability.

The study outlines a tentative implementation plan enabling the Western Balkans to achieve electronic toll collection interoperability, first at the regional level and then at the European Union level, ensuring consistency with the current systems and taking into account the evolutions necessary to make the scheme compliant with the European Union directives.

The objective of this report is to identify obstacles and barriers to accessibility in the region at the central rail and bus stations.

Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy for Western Balkans was developed to serve the region by setting common objectives and a list of common measures for making transport greener, sustainable, and healthier for citizens. The progress report demonstrates advancement in the implementation of the strategy from year to year and has been divided per three goals: Sustainable, Smart and Resilient Mobility which further cover 10 flagships and actions under them.

The report contains information concerning the EU Acquis on transport of dangerous goods (TDG) and tachographs as comprised in ANNEX I of the Transport Community Treaty. The report covers Guideline measures foreseen to be transposed and implemented in the short-term period (until 2023).