Rail transport law
The body of law governing international carriage by rail is set out in various intergovernmental agreements and conventions, which are overseen and administered by various organisations. Additionally, EU Member States are subject to a number of directives and regulations.
OTIF
OTIF is an intergovernmental organisation based in Bern. COTIF, which gives rise to OTIF, defines the aim of OTIF as to promote, improve and facilitate international traffic by rail.
OSJD
The OSJD is an inter-ministerial organisation based in Warsaw. One of its main tasks is to manage the SMPS and SMGS conventions.
EU
The European Union has taken a very active role in rail transport since 1990. A summary of European Union legislation may be found on:
UNECE
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), based in Geneva, is one of five regional commissions of the United Nations.
Its major aim is to promote pan-European economic integration. It sets out norms, standards and conventions to facilitate international cooperation, particularly for transport.
UNIDROIT
The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) is an independent intergovernmental organisation based in Rome.
Its purpose is to study needs and methods for modernising, harmonising and co-ordinating private and in particular commercial law as between states and groups of states and to formulate uniform law instruments, principles and rules to achieve those objectives.
UNCITRAL
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) is the core legal body of the United Nations system in international trade law, based in Vienna (AUT).
This Commission was established in 1966.
A legal body specialized in commercial law reforms worldwide and with a mandate of modernization and harmonization of rules on international business.