Russia and Belarus intend to create conditions for the growth of freight traffic in the Kaliningrad area. According to Russian Ministry of Transport press-service, this issue has been recently discussed at the 11th meeting of the Coordination Commission for the formation and operation of an integrated transport system of the two states. Russia's delegation was headed by Sergei Aristov, Deputy Transport Minister, the Belorussian delegation – by Nikolai Verkhovets, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications of Belarus.
During the meeting, the Ministries of Transport, together with other agencies and transportation organizations have been mandated to formulate a draft action plan on the formation and functioning of the unified transport system of the Union State for 2011-2012 and to submit it for consideration at the next meeting of the Coordination Commission.
The activities of the preparatory period for the transfer of vehicle control at the external borders of a single customs territory, planned in 2009, was said to be performed as well by the Belarusian as Russian sides in a timely manner. The delegations have reviewed the draft Agreement between the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Belarus and the Ministry of Transport of Russia on the organization of the transport controls at the external border of the Union State, which will focus on coordination with the responsible departments of Russia and Belarus.
The parties stated that the global financial crisis had caused a decrease in demand for goods and services, as well as the decline in production in the economy, decreased volumes on the market of international freight traffic. According to Russian RosTransNadzor, the volume of motor freight transportation between Russia and Belarus, in both directions has decreased by 15% and amounted to 3230.6 thousand tons for nine months in 2009 against 3.9 million tones over the same period 2008. The share of Russian trucking companies’ decline - 9%, and the Belarusian cargo carriers - at 21%.
The delegations have considered certain issues, including the ensuring of free and non-discriminatory transportation between Russia and Belarus and transit through their territories. The work will go ahead during the implementation of the plan of joint activities for the formation and functioning of an integrated transport system of the Union State.