TRACECA


TRACECA is an international transport programme involving the European Union and 12 member States of the Eastern European, Caucasian and Central Asian region. The programme aim is to strengthen economic relations, trade and transport in the regions of the Black Sea basin, South Caucasus and Central Asia. It has a permanent Secretariat, originally financed by the European Commission, in Baku, Azerbaijan, and a regional office in Odessa, Ukraine. Since 2009 the organisation has been entirely financed by member countries.

Origins

TRACECA was established in May 1993 in Brussels, upon the signing of a Multilateral Agreement on International Transport for the development of transport initiatives between the EU member states, the Caucasus and Central Asian countries. The programme supports the political and economic independence of the former Soviet Union republics through enhancing their access to European and global markets through road, rail and sea.
The objectives of TRACECA were underlined by the Baku Initiative of 2004, followed by a further ministerial conference in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2006.

Membership

The following states currently participate in the TRACECA program:
Iran officially joined TRACECA in 2009 after their request was accepted during that year's September Brussels meeting. However technical assistance related to the project has not been provided to Iran since 2010 due to UN Security and EU sanctions.
In July 2016, Greece announced they are considering joining TRACECA activities as an observer.

Secretary-General

The Permanent Secretariat of TRACECA was established in March 2000 in Baku, and inaugurated on February 21, 2001 with the participation of the then President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev, together with Javier Solana, Christopher Patten, Anna Lind. The Secretary-General is a chief executive officer of the Permanent Secretariat. The first Secretary-General elected by the Intergovernmental Commission was a representative of Georgia, ambassador Zviad Kvatchantiradze.
The current Secretary-General is Mircea Ciopraga, appointed by the Intergovernmental Commission in January 2015.
№Secretary-GeneralDates in officeCountry of originRef
1Zviad Kvatchantiradze2000–2002Georgia
2Abdurashid Tagirov2002–2003Uzbekistan
3Lyudmila Trenkova2003–2006Bulgaria
4Rustan Jenalinov2006–2009Kazakhstan
5Zhantoro Satybaldiyev2009–2011Kyrgyzstan
6Eduard Biriucov2011–2014Moldova
7Mircea Ciopraga2015–presentRomania

Projects

TRACECA has five working groups: maritime transport, aviation, road and rail, transport security, and transport infrastructure. Amongst its specific projects was the creation of a new bridge to replace and protect the heritage Red Bridge, located between Georgia and Azerbaijan.