Legal Affairs and International Cooperation
The Appendices to COTIF constitute uniform railway law for international rail transport among the members of OTIF.
The CIV, CIM, CUV and CUI Appendices lay down the uniform rules for various railway contracts for international transport:
- The contract of international carriage of passengers by Rail (CIV),
- The contract of international carriage of goods by Rail (CIM),
- The contract of use of vehicles in international rail traffic (CUV),
- The contract of use of infrastructure in international rail traffic (CUI).
The purpose of establishing railway contract law for international traffic is to ensure legal certainty, in particular by defining liability regimes. Establishing railway contract law for international transport is OTIF’s traditional activity. The first convention on the contract for the international carriage of goods by rail dates from 1890 (Bern International Convention on the Transport of Goods by Rail).
In order to ensure the management and development of uniform railway law, an institutional system is established by COTIF itself. Some important legal issues are linked to the functioning and development of this institutional system.
However, it is equally important for OTIF to cooperate effectively with other relevant international organisations and associations so that it can achieve its objectives.
At its 15th session in September 2021, the General Assembly decided to establish an ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation for a period of three years (September 2021 – September 2024).
The ad hoc Committee on Legal Affairs and International Cooperation will play a key role in:
- the development of OTIF’s legal system, particularly the Basic Convention and the four sets of uniform rules for various railway contracts;
- framing, developing and strengthening international cooperation with international organisations and associations.
However, it should be emphasised that only the General Assembly or the Revision Committee have the competence to amend the Convention itself and its Appendices A,B,D,E,F and G.
For any further information, please contact the Legal Department: law@otif.org
Aleksandr Kuzmenko
Head of legal department
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