TIRANA – To continue work of progressing towards safer transportation practices in the Western Balkans, the 2nd regional workshop on improving the safety of transporting dangerous goods was held from 24 to 26 October 2023. Hosted in Tirana, this event gathered relevant stakeholders and authorities from across the region and saw fruitful cooperation between the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) from the Netherlands and the Road Transport Task Force in Albania.
The workshop focused on the practical application of the Directive (EU) 2022/1999, which aims to standardise checks on the transport of dangerous goods by road. It also explored the connections between this directive and other important EU regulations, in particular Directive 2008/68/EC and the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).
Building upon a similar event held in Romania in 2022 regarding the directive on uniform procedures for checks on the transport of dangerous goods by road, the Albanian presidency of the Transport Community’s Technical Committee for Transport of Dangerous Goods led the discussions this year.
To support institutional growth and development of the regional partners, the workshop focused on developing and implementing domestic rules and procedures, particularly regarding enforcement and sanctions outlined in the directive. It also discussed the directive’s Article 6, which stipulates checks at company premises as a preventative measure or in cases where violations that compromise safety in the transportation of dangerous goods are recorded during roadside inspections.
A key aspect of the workshop was the preparation for enforcement activities and ensuring the safe execution of roadside inspections. Participants engaged in two days of theoretical training, followed by one day of practical technical roadside checks.
Another significant topic was the integration of these checks into national transportation policies. Drawing inspiration from the Dutch model, the workshop aimed to establish best practices for incorporating these safety measures into the broader regulatory framework.
The ILT played a crucial role in making this workshop a success. As the supervising authority of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management in the Netherlands, the ILT holds responsibilities that include the oversight and enforcement of dangerous goods transportation. The TCT Secretariat extends its gratitude to the ILT experts – Senior Advisor, Mr Maurits Van Den Adel, Senior Inspector and Coordinator of Dangerous Goods Road, Mr André Schenkel, and Inspector, Mr Sjoerd Tuinstra, for their invaluable contributions.
