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Promoting mobility in the Western Balkans
Publication date: 13 January 2009
Interview with Jovan Tegovski, vice-president of the Auto Moto Association of Macedonia
FIA clubs have long pushed for greater mobility in Europe. Jovan Tegovski, vice-president of the Auto Moto Association of Macedonia (AMSM), is following this same tradition. As his country's first ambassador to the EU, from 1995 to 2001, he has an excellent understanding of how Brussels works. Based in Brussels, Jovan Tegovski is currently a special envoy of the Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC ) that brings together south-east European (SEE) countries. He is set on improving mobility in the Western Balkans.
As vice-president of the Auto Moto Association of Macedonia - AMSM what specific mobility issues do you see facing car drivers and their clubs in the region?
The bad road infrastructure and inadequately developed infrastructure at cross-border points are one of the major problems in terms of mobility facing car drivers in the region. Not all countries are able or equipped, even if EU assistance has helped, to maintain a good flow of cars and trucks, especially during the summer months. The bad infrastructure represents a major obstacle in terms of economic development and making contacts easier and simpler, not only between SEE countries, but also other parts of Europe.
An additional mobility problem is the visa regime. The EU's current Schengen visa regime makes it very difficult for citizens from the region, particularly for young people, to travel freely to other countries that are members of EU such as Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Hungary. We used to be able to travel freely to Bulgaria and Romania until their admission to the EU in January 2007. This effectively makes mobility very difficult for citizens from the whole region.
Are you happy with the visa facilitation agreement for the Western Balkans with the EU?
The visa facilitation agreements between EU and the five Western Balkans countries that entered into force at the beginning of 2008 have simplified some procedures. But while fewer documents are required, the issuing of visas still remains quite a complicated exercise. We are hoping for a visa free regime by the end of 2009. Perhaps this will not be for all the countries in the regions given the tough requirements such as biometric passports and improved border control.
How did you come to be the vice-president of the Auto Moto Association of Macedonia?
I have always had a personal interest in the automobile sector and close contacts with the AMSM, particularly with its Secretary General Dimitar Minovski. A second reason is my experience in working with the EU, especially following Macedonia's status as a candidate for EU membership.
How much progress do you see in developing the Southeast Europe Core Regional Transport Network?
All countries from the region signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the development of the Southeast Europe Core Regional Transport Network. They also established a Transport Observatory located in Belgrade. It is a kind of secretariat aimed at monitoring developments and promoting initiatives to improve different segments of the transport sector. Now the countries are going one step further and have started negotiations with the EU on concluding a South-east Europe Transport Community Treaty. This would serve as a basis to make much easier the process of constructing or maintaining infrastructure connecting the countries with the EU member states as well as improving the overall transport infrastructure in the region. The aim is to have negotiations concluded and signed by the end of 2009 during the Swedish presidency of the EU.
Will this transport community really increase mobility for car drivers in the region?
The negotiating process is still in its early phase. Only after the Treaty has been signed and ratified, can the parties start implementation. So at this stage it is difficult to predict when drivers will start to really feel the fruits of the Treaty, but it will very certainly improve mobility in the region. In the meantime, countries are trying to find ways to improve mobility within existing structures. This is not an easy process, bearing in mind that the most expensive investment is in the transport infrastructure. There are possibilities. But it is up to the countries to make best use of them.
What are you doing with respect to road safety, another major issue in the region and EU integration?
The AMSM is working hard on improving road safety. This is also one of the main goals of Macedonia's mid-term transport development strategy adopted for 2006 to 2010. Last year, the Macedonian assembly adopted a National Strategy for improving road safety for 2009-20014. This strategy explicitly introduces the obligation to respect legal provisions on planning and standardization of roads and infrastructure. It further created an appropriate data base in compliance with the EuroRap and iRap.
The government has focused much attention on improving road safety, effectiveness of road rail transport, facilitation of customs and cross border travelling. Within this strategy, a new law on road safety was adopted in September 2008 according to EU requirements and standards. The law provide for higher penalties. For instance, one of my friends driving in Skopje did not stop at a pedestrian crossing. He was caught by a police officer. If he paid his fine within seven days the fee is EUR 150, afterwards it is EUR 300. That's more than the average monthly salary.
How can automobile clubs in the region help in the European integration process?
Take this Macedonian law on road safety. Many of the suggestions and ideas made by AMSM were put in the legal texts. The AMSM helped the government prepare the legislation using the experience we have gained in recent years. But it is also important that the automobile clubs in the region increase their cooperation and sharing of best practice, particularly with clubs that already belong to the EU. Increasing cooperation and contacts, organising workshops and seminars so as to learn as candidate countries, whether concerning matters like road safety or EU acquis, will help us very much in the whole process of integration into the EU.
Mobility in Europe often means crossing borders. How long does it take to drive from Macedonia's capital city Skopje to Brussels?
The actual driving time is around 22 hours for approximately 2200 km. In practice, though, you need much more time to cover this distance. Last summer, I drove from Skopje to Brussels via Serbia and Hungary. Crossing form Macedonia to Serbia was not a problem as on the Macedonian side there is good cross-border infrastructure wit many lanes. After 15 to 20 minutes, you can cross the border and get to Belgrade on a good road, mostly highway. The worst problem, though, was waiting on the Serbia-Hungary border. Why? Because, you are entering the Schengen area. There were hundreds and hundreds of cars, as this were the beginning of August with lots of tourists. People waited for over four to five hours just to pass the border. After that you do not have internal EU borders and you can drive without problems.
For more information contact: Jovan Tegovski at jovan.tegovski@rcc.int
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