From 13 till June 16 June 2023, the L (50^th) anniversary session of the Ministerial Conference of the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD) was held in the city of Busan (Republic of Korea), in which members of the Ministerial Conference of 19 OSJD member countries took part, as well as representatives of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).

The session was chaired by Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Won Hee-ryong, and the functions of the session’s secretary were performed by Chairman of the OSJD Committee, Mirosław Antonowicz.

The following items were considered within the agenda of the MC session:

- on the accession of the Government of the Republic of Korea to the Agreement on International Passenger Traffic (SMPS) and to the Agreement on International Railway Freight Traffic (SMGS);

- Reports on OSJD activities for 2021 and 2022;

- Reports of the OSJD Auditing Commission for 2021 and 2022;

- on the results of work for 2021 and 2022 of the OSJD Commission on Transport Policy and Development Strategy and the OSJD Commission on Transport Law;

- on the work progress of the AWG on vocational education/training in the field of railway traffic for 2021 and 2022;

- on the OSJD Work Programme for 2024 and subsequent years;

- payment of membership fees;

- OSJD Committee Budget (final – for 2023, preliminary – for 2024);

- post distribution in the management board of the OSJD Committee, chairmen/chairpersons and specialists in the OSJD working bodies;

- appointment of the OSJD Committee management board;

- the draft provisional agenda, venue and date of the LI (51^st) session of the OSJD Ministerial Conference.

Taking into account the application of the Republic of Korea for its accession to the Agreement on International Passenger Traffic (SMPS) and to the Agreement on International Freight Railway Traffic (SMGS), the members of the OSJD Ministerial Conference who are at the same time Parties to the SMPS and/or Parties to the SMGS Agreements:

- have decided to agree with the accession to the SMPS and the SMGS Agreements of the Government of the Republic of Korea on the 30^th day after the submission to the OSJD Committee, as the depositary of the SMPS and SMGS Agreements, of the instrument of ratification of accession;

- instructed the OSJD Committee, as the depository of SMPS and SMGS Agreements, to bring the texts of these agreements in line with the decisions taken.

The OSJD Ministerial Conference noted the implementation of the OSJD Programme and Work Plans for 2021 and 2022 and approved the OSJD Activity Reports for 2021 and 2022, the Auditing Commission Reports for 2021 and 2022 and the OSJD Committee Budget (preliminary – for 2024 and final – for 2023), the OSJD Work Programme for 2024 and subsequent years in the field of transport policy, development strategy, transport law, vocational training in the field of railway transport and the General Section. When considering the issue of paying membership fees, taking into account the timely payment of current membership fees and the gradual repayment of debts, it was decided to restore the right to vote in all OSJD bodies for the OSJD member from the Republic of Moldova.

On the basis of the approved OSJD Work Programme for 2024 and subsequent years, the OSJD Committee and the OSJD working bodies were instructed to develop draft work plans for 2024 and submit them for approval to the joint meeting of Plenipotentiary Representatives of Members of the OSJD Ministerial Conference and the Conference of General Directors (Authorised Representatives) of OSJD railways in 2023.

The OSJD Ministerial Conference session approved the results of work of the Commission on Transport Policy and Development Strategy and the Commission on Transport Law for 2021 and 2022 and approved a number of documents, including “Comprehensive Plans for Improving Transportation and Developing the OSJD Railway Transport Corridors Nos. 1-13 until 2030 year”, II edition of the OSJD Leaflet R 305-1 “OSJD Glossary” with entry into force from 1 July 2023, as well as took note of the information on the entry into force from 1 May 2023 of amendments and additions to the SMPS Agreement and SI to SMPS, and from 1 July 2023 – changes and amendments to the SMGS Agreement and SI to the SMGS.

Within the framework of activities of the AWG on vocational education/training in the field of railway transport, the Ministerial Conference approved the Progress Reports of the AWG for March 2021 - July 2022 and August 2022 - March 2023 and approved with entry into force from 1 August 2023 a number of documents necessary for the functioning of the Academy, as well as took note of the developed qualification requirements for further approval at the next session of the Ministerial Conference, instructing the AWG to include in the agenda of the AWG meetings the consideration of the issue related to the tasks and functions of the secretariat of the OSJD Academy (OSJD Committee).

The Ministerial Conference session has set forth the tasks for the next period in the field of transport policy and development strategy, transport law, vocational education/training in the field of railway transport, as well as decided to resume the works in the field of ecology and environmental protection in railway transport from 2023.

The 50^th OSJD Ministerial Conference session decided to hold its 51^st (LI) session in Hungary from 11 till 14 June 2024.

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