Multimodal transportation in Eastern Europe: a Ukrainian legislative perspective

Multimodal transportation in the European continent is an integral part of cross border trade and in particular the use of sea and river carriers. The phenomenon of short sea shipping has reached a level of importance of which all European states must take cognisance. One of the policies associated with this issue is the development of the motorways of the sea. While Ukraine is not yet a part of the European Union (EU), it aspires to become a member; and in any event, it is physically a part of the European continent. It shares this attribute with other East European countries which were once a part of the Soviet Union. In Ukraine there are numerous pieces of legislation from Soviet times governing transportation including shipping. However, there is now in place a serious and concerted effort in Ukraine to enact modern legislation compatible with EU law and policy to address issues of multimodality in inland waterways including rivers and the short sea shipping strategy for the Black Sea. The initiative, needless to say, involves transhipment issues as well as numerous technical and operational considerations. The principal purpose of this paper is to examine the legislative development in Ukraine on this front to assess the degree of consistency and compatibility with policy and planning of its neighbouring states as well as the planning and strategic developments of the EU. To what extent the national legislation will benefit Ukraine in terms of movement of goods by sea and other modalities are addressed as a part of the overall object of this paper given the fact that Ukraine is located at the crossroads of four international transportation corridors. It is expected that the conclusion of this enquiry will reflect a positive outcome of a critical analysis of the legislative initiative taking place in Ukraine of this important subject from a legal and practical perspective.

The tentative structure of the paper is contemplated as follows: Section 1 concerns Introduction; Section 2 addresses Current Practice of cargo Movements in and through Ukraine; Section 3 gives an Overview of Present and Prospective legislation on Multimodality in Ukraine; and Section 4 provides Conclusion and Recommendations.