UNUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe

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Delayed entry into force of amendment 6 of the AETR Agreement

Geneva, 11 December 2009 --


The package of amendments to the body, Annex and Appendices to the Annex of the European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR), done in Geneva, 1 July 1970, adopted by the Working Party on Road Transport (SC.1) at its one-hundred-and-third session held in Geneva from 29 to 31 October 2008 will not enter into force on 21 December 2009 as foreseen.

The AETR provisions in force before that date remain valid and should be observed by all Contracting Parties until the above-mentioned amendments come into force. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) will announce the new date according to the procedures.

The UNECE Working Party on Road Transport (SC.1), at its one-hundred-and-third session (ECE/TRANS/SC.1/386, paragraph 15) held in Geneva from 29 to 31 October 2008, adopted a package of amendments to the body, Annex and Appendices to the Annex of the AETR.  In accordance with paragraph 1 of article 21 of the above Agreement the texts of the proposed amendments (hereafter referred to as “amendment 6”) were transmitted to the United Nations Secretary-General on 12 March 2009, by the Government of the Netherlands.

The texts of the proposed amendments (accompanied by an explanatory memorandum), in English, French and Russian, can be found in document ECE/TRANS/SC.1/2008/386/Add.1 at: http://www.unece.org/trans/main/sc1/sc1rep.html

In accordance with AETR article 21, paragraphs 1 to 6, the amendments were supposed to enter into force on 21 December 2009, unless within a period of six months from the date on which the proposed amendment is communicated by the Secretary-General, any Contracting Party informed the Secretary-General:
(a) that it has an objection to the amendment proposed; or
(b) that, although it intends to accept the proposal, the conditions necessary for such acceptance are not yet fulfilled in its State.

Finland and the Netherlands have submitted within the deadlines communications stating that although they intend to accept the proposed amendments, the conditions necessary for such acceptance have not been fulfilled.

By submitting this communication, the period in which Finland or the Netherlands may submit an objection to the proposed amendments was extended until 20 June 2010. If acceptances or no objections have been received from Finland and the Netherlands before 20 June 2010, the amendments will be deemed accepted and enter into force three months after the date of the notification, on 21 September 2010 at the latest. 

As a consequence of these developments, amendment 6 to the AETR will not enter into force on 21 December 2009 as foreseen. The AETR provisions in force before that date remain valid and should be observed by all Contracting Parties (see text at:  http://www.unece.org/trans/conventn/legalinst.html#21)

For further information, please contact:

Virginia Tanase
Economic Affairs Officer (Road transport, Road traffic safety)
UNECE Transport Division
Email: [email protected]

Ref: ECE/TRANS/09/P16