BSEC-URTA President Eduart Kasa Addressed the 88th Session of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee
Mr. Eduart Kasa, President of BSEC-URTA, participated as a speaker at the 88th Session of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee, held on 18 February 2026 in Geneva. The session provided an important platform to highlight key challenges and priorities for international road transport and regional connectivity.
In his intervention, President Kasa emphasized the growing strategic importance of the Middle Corridor, which has become a crucial and stable trade route since 2022 in light of geopolitical developments. He underlined that BSEC-URTA member associations, operating at the heart of the Corridor, witness both increasing trade opportunities and significant operational challenges, particularly long waiting times and congestion at border crossings.
President Kasa called on national authorities to implement UNECE transport-related conventions such as the TIR and Harmonization Conventions, promote joint border controls and one-stop systems, facilitate visa procedures for professional drivers, and accelerate the digitalization of transport documents including ePermit, eTIR and eCMR.
He concluded by stressing that joint action, mutual trust and strong political will are essential to ensure efficient transport flows and to reinforce trade links between Europe, Asia and the wider global economy.
On the same occasion, President Kasa, together with H.E. Ambassador Lazăr Comănescu, Secretary General of the BSEC Organization, met with the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, H.E. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and discussed issues related to problems of trucks at border crossings and the need to strengthen regional cooperation with the EC to find solutions to such problems
Discussions also touched upon possible cooperation with UK counterparts, including engagement with Mr. Keir Mather MP, particularly in relation to Schengen driver visa limitations and the need for amendments to the EU regulation related to the”90 days rule” of stay of drivers on the Shengen territory and it’s measurement tool, the electronic Entry/Exit System (EES).
