Kiri

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Telephone: +41 (0)22 917 2401 (direct) +41 (0)22 917 1234 (Palais des Nations)

Ref.: UNECE / 2025/ TRANS / 47

5 August 2025

Dear Mr. Kuningas,

In my capacity as Officer in Charge of the Sustainable Transport Division, I have the honour, on behalf of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), to invite representatives of your ministry to attend the thirty-eighth annual session of the Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics (WP.5), which will take place from 24 to 26 September 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Please find attached the draft agenda, along with a summary overview and tentative time schedule for your reference.

WP.5 serves as the principal intergovernmental platform within UNECE for identifying and analysing emerging trends in inland transport and for developing forward-looking policy recommendations. As the think tank of the Inland Transport Committee, WP.5 offers a unique forum for strategic dialogue among member States, experts, and stakeholders on the future of inland transport.

This year’s session will feature a focused, three-day programme centred around the Working Party’s main pillars of work:

• Day 1 (24 September): Advancing the operationalization of inland transport corridors between Europe and Asia, with emphasis on key findings and progress in infrastructure alignment and digitalization under existing ECE-led governance frameworks, investment priorities, and updates on other major corridors.

• Day 2 (25 September): Addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation in the transport sector, including the presentation of a draft Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) template for inland transport, a progress update on the E- mobility Task Force, and a panel discussion on building climate-resilient transport systems.

• Day 3 (26 September): Exploring WP.5’s role in strategic foresight for inland transport, including the analysis of key future scenarios and discussions on the development of a Cycle Route Network Convention.

Mr. Ahti Kuningas Deputy Secretary General for Transport Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia Tallinn

Page 2

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

We highly value your government’s active participation in the Working Party's deliberations and therefore invite you to designate representatives to contribute to the thematic discussions.

Should you have any further requirements, particularly regarding speaking slot requests, please contact Mr. Roel Janssens, Secretary of WP.5, at [email protected] or +41 22 917 3460.

Your designated representative(s) are invited to register at this link https://indico.un.org/event/1011912. Information concerning the agenda, and the working documents of the session can be found at the following link: UNECE WP.5 38th Session.

We look forward to your country’s active engagement in the thirty-eighth annual session of WP.5.

Yours sincerely, p.p.

Dmitry Mariyasin Deputy Executive Secretary

Officer-in Charge Sustainable Transport Division

Enclosure

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Telephone: +41 (0)22 917 2401 (direct) +41 (0)22 917 1234 (Palais des Nations)

Ref.: UNECE / 2025/ TRANS / 47

5 August 2025

Dear Mr. Kuningas,

In my capacity as Officer in Charge of the Sustainable Transport Division, I have the honour, on behalf of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), to invite representatives of your ministry to attend the thirty-eighth annual session of the Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics (WP.5), which will take place from 24 to 26 September 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Please find attached the draft agenda, along with a summary overview and tentative time schedule for your reference.

WP.5 serves as the principal intergovernmental platform within UNECE for identifying and analysing emerging trends in inland transport and for developing forward-looking policy recommendations. As the think tank of the Inland Transport Committee, WP.5 offers a unique forum for strategic dialogue among member States, experts, and stakeholders on the future of inland transport.

This year’s session will feature a focused, three-day programme centred around the Working Party’s main pillars of work:

• Day 1 (24 September): Advancing the operationalization of inland transport corridors between Europe and Asia, with emphasis on key findings and progress in infrastructure alignment and digitalization under existing ECE-led governance frameworks, investment priorities, and updates on other major corridors.

• Day 2 (25 September): Addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation in the transport sector, including the presentation of a draft Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) template for inland transport, a progress update on the E- mobility Task Force, and a panel discussion on building climate-resilient transport systems.

• Day 3 (26 September): Exploring WP.5’s role in strategic foresight for inland transport, including the analysis of key future scenarios and discussions on the development of a Cycle Route Network Convention.

Mr. Ahti Kuningas Deputy Secretary General for Transport Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications of the Republic of Estonia Tallinn

Page 2

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

We highly value your government’s active participation in the Working Party's deliberations and therefore invite you to designate representatives to contribute to the thematic discussions.

Should you have any further requirements, particularly regarding speaking slot requests, please contact Mr. Roel Janssens, Secretary of WP.5, at [email protected] or +41 22 917 3460.

Your designated representative(s) are invited to register at this link https://indico.un.org/event/1011912. Information concerning the agenda, and the working documents of the session can be found at the following link: UNECE WP.5 38th Session.

We look forward to your country’s active engagement in the thirty-eighth annual session of WP.5.

Yours sincerely, p.p.

Dmitry Mariyasin Deputy Executive Secretary

Officer-in Charge Sustainable Transport Division

Enclosure

GE.25-11586 (E)

Economic Commission for Europe

Inland Transport Committee

Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics

Thirty-eighth session

Geneva, 24–26 September 2025

Item 1 of the provisional agenda

Adoption of the agenda

Annotated provisional agenda for the thirty-eighth session*, **

to be held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday,

24 September 2025, Room VIII, Palais des Nations

I. Provisional agenda

1. Adoption of the agenda.

2. Development of transport networks and links:

(a) Euro-Asian Transport Links;

(b) Trans-European Motorway and Trans-European Railway projects;

(c) Trans-European Transport Network;

(d) Transport in the Mediterranean Region;

(e) Other initiatives on the development of transport corridors.

3. Transport infrastructure data:

International Transport Infrastructure Observatory.

4. Transport and climate change:

(a) Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation

for Inland Transport;

* Delegates are kindly requested to bring copies of all relevant documents to the session, as no printed

documentation will be available in the conference room. Prior to the session, documents may be

downloaded from the WP.5 thirty-eighth annual session webpage:

https://unece.org/transport/events/wp5-working-party-transport-trends-and-economics-38th-session. ** Delegates, including those in possession of a long-duration badge, are requested to register online at:

https://indico.un.org/event/1011912/ and to obtain an identification badge at the UNOG Security and

Safety Section, located at the Pregny Gate (14, Avenue de la Paix). In case of difficulty, please contact

the ECE secretariat by phone at +41 22 917 59 75 or by email at: [email protected]. For a map of

the Palais des Nations and other useful information, please consult:

www.unece.org/meetings/practical.html.

United Nations ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

Economic and Social Council Distr.: General

16 July 2025

Original: English

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

2

(b) Implementation of the Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from

Inland Transport.

5. Inland transport security.

6. Sustainable urban mobility, cycling and public transport.

7. Review and monitoring of emerging issues and sustainable development goals:

(a) Transport trends and challenges in the road, rail, and inland waterways sectors;

(b) Transport Trends and Economics 2025–2026;

(c) Technical assistance to countries with economies in transition:

(i) Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity Indicators;

(ii) Regional adviser technical assistance;

(iii) Support for Landlocked Developing Countries.

8. Activities of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe bodies of interest to

the Working Party.

9. Working party evaluation report for the period 2024–2025 and updated biennial and

long-term programme of work.

10. Other business.

11. Date of next session.

12. Adoption of main decisions.

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

3

II. Annotations

1. Adoption of the agenda

In accordance with its rules of procedure, the Working Party on Transport Trends and

Economics (WP.5) will be invited to adopt the provisional agenda for its thirty-eight session.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

2. Development of transport networks and links

(a) Euro-Asian Transport Links

Since the thirty-seventh annual session of WP.5, the Coordination Committee on the Trans-

Caspian and Almaty–Tehran–Istanbul Corridors – convening as a Group of Friends of the

WP.5 Chair – has continued its work to enhance the operationalization of the two corridors,

in line with its agreed biennial programme of work, as set out in document

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2023/1 (annex II). The WP.5 Chair, together with Coordination

Committee members from Georgia and Uzbekistan, which hosted the sixth and seventh

sessions respectively, will report on progress made in operationalizing the corridors since the

previous session. The progress report is contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/1. Certain

data on key infrastructure parameters from countries participating in the Coordination

Committee was submitted to the secretariat at a later stage or remains under review. This

additional information, pertaining to Cluster 1, will be made available in an update contained

in Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 1.

In addition, the Governments of the Russian Federation, Belarus, and Mongolia will present

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/2, which outlines the progress made toward the establishment of

the Coordination Committee for the Management of EATL Railway Route No. 1. The

document also reiterates the mandates underpinning the creation of this Committee and

serves as an information note to the Working Party.

(b) Trans-European Motorway and Trans-European Railway projects

The managers of the Trans-European Motorway (TEM) and Trans-European Railway (TER)

projects will brief the Working Party on activities carried out since the previous session. An

overview of these activities is provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 2.

(c) Trans-European Transport Network

The European Commission will brief the Working Party on recent developments concerning

the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

(d) Transport in the Mediterranean Region

The Mediterranean Transport Study Centre (CETMO) will be invited to update the Working

Party on its recent activities. An overview of these activities is contained in Informal

document WP.5 (2025) No. 3. The European Commission will also be invited to brief the

Working Party on its ongoing efforts in developing the Euro-Mediterranean transport

network.

(e) Other initiatives on the development of transport corridors

Representatives of other organizations and institutions may also wish to brief the Working

Party on their activities related to the operationalization of various transport corridors.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2023/1, annex II; ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/1;

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/2; Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 1;

Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 2; Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 3

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

4

3. Transport infrastructure data

International Transport Infrastructure Observatory

The secretariat will provide a progress report and outline next steps regarding the further

development of the International Transport Infrastructure Observatory (ITIO), which is

increasingly used by governments, regional organizations, and other stakeholders.

In addition, the secretariat will provide a brief update on climate resilience aspects discussed

during the 2024 WP.5 Round Table on “Financing Transport Infrastructure for Corridor

Development”, emphasizing ITIO’s role in supporting climate change forecasting and impact

assessment for transport infrastructure.

4. Transport and climate change

(a) Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for

Inland Transport

Under this agenda item, the final report of the Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate

Change Impacts and Adaptation for Inland Transport (WP.5/GE.3), which completed its

mandate in May 2025, will be presented for consideration and endorsement by the Working

Party. The final report is contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/4 and

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/7.

In addition, a dedicated panel discussion entitled “Towards Climate-Resilient Transport

Systems” will be held on the morning of 25 September 2025. The panel will present the key

findings and main recommendations of the Group of Experts’ final report. A brief agenda

and concept note for the panel discussion are provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025)

No. 4.

Following the panel discussion, ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/5, annex I, which contains the

draft Terms of Reference for a proposed Technical Body on Inland Transport Climate

Resilience will be presented to the Working Party.

The proposed Technical Body would operate with an open-ended mandate to support the

implementation of the ITC Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Inland

Transport until 2050 (ECE/TRANS/2024/3), with particular emphasis on the Strategy’s

component addressing effective climate change adaptation.

WP.5 is invited to consider and finalize the draft Terms of Reference and recommend them

for adoption by the Inland Transport Committee at its eighty-eighth session in 2026; it is

proposed that the Technical Body be established as a subsidiary body to WP.5. Upon

endorsement by the Working Party and subsequently by the Inland Transport Committee

(ITC), this new body would be established to build upon the work of the former Group of

Experts (WP.5/GE.3).

(b) Implementation of the Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Inland

Transport

Following the workshop on the importance of integrating the inland transport sector into

Member States' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement,

held during the thirty-seventh session of WP.5, and mindful of the resulting request to the

secretariat – also supported by the Inland Transport Committee at its eighty-seventh session

– to develop a draft NDC template for inland transport, the Working Party is invited to

consider and discuss the draft proposal contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/3, annex II.

The draft template is intended to assist countries in preparing their overall NDCs and in more

efficiently reporting on ongoing and planned measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas

emissions from inland transport.

As part of this agenda item, a round table will be held on the afternoon of 25 September 2025,

bringing together representatives from interested member States and various mode- and

submode-specific organizations active in this field. The purpose of the round table is to

discuss the proposed NDC template, with a view to assist the Working Party in finalizing and

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

5

endorsing it for submission to ITC at its eighty-eighth session in February 2026. A brief

agenda and concept note for the round table are provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025)

No. 5.

Moreover, mindful of the Working Party’s request at its thirty-seventh annual session that a

progress report on the activities and achievements of the Informal ECE Task Force on

Electric Mobility be presented at its annual session in 2025, the Working Party is invited to

consider ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/3, annex I. The document summarizes key developments

since the first session of the Task Force and highlights the outcomes of its second and third

meetings, held in December 2024 and July 2025, respectively. It also outlines the substantive

progress achieved under the prioritized clusters of work, which have convened actively over

the past year, as identified in the 2024–2025 programme of work.

The Working Party is invited to review the activities of the E-Mobility Task Force in line

with the 2024–2025 work plan and to provide guidance, as it deems appropriate, on the focus

and scope of the 2026 work plan, as well as on the possibility of a one-year extension of the

Task Force’s mandate until 2027, particularly in view of the resource constraints faced by

the ECE secretariat.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/3, annex I and II; ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/4;

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/5, annex I; ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/7; ECE/TRANS/2024/3;

Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 4; Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 5

5. Inland transport security

Under this agenda item, and in line with the biennial programme of work of the Working

Party – under which transport security is addressed from a different angle every two years –

designated keynote statements will be delivered to highlight the important role of transport

in promoting security and stability. This includes the potential of transport systems to restore

confidence and facilitate connectivity in fragile or volatile settings, as well as their broader

relevance in supporting national and regional efforts to enhance preparedness, resilience, and

cooperation in response to evolving security challenges.

6. Sustainable urban mobility, cycling and public transport

Following the endorsement of the final report of the Group of Experts on Cycling

Infrastructure Module (WP.5/GE.5) at the Working Party’s annual session in 2024, and in

line with the request to explore the possible development of a legal instrument on cycling

infrastructure – which received support from ITC at its eighty-seventh session in February

2025 – the Working Party will be invited to consider, finalize, and endorse the draft terms of

reference for a new Group of Experts on the Development of a Cycle Route Network

Convention, as contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/5, annex II, ahead of their submission

to ITC for approval at its annual session in February 2026.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/5, annex II

7. Review and monitoring of emerging issues and sustainable development

goals

(a) Transport trends and challenges in the road, rail, and inland waterways sectors

Under this agenda item, the Working Party will be briefed on the concept of strategic

foresight, including its relevance for transport policymakers in identifying long-term trends,

anticipating emerging risks and opportunities, and informing the development of resilient,

forward-looking transport policies. Break-out sessions on selected case studies may be

organized to support a deeper understanding of the topic and generate concrete outcomes and

recommendations. These outcomes are expected to help shape the future work of WP.5,

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

6

including its possible role in monitoring emerging trends in inland transport as part of its

upcoming biennial programme of work. This strategic foresight introduction session will be

held on Friday, 26 September (a.m.), and a draft agenda and concept note are contained in

Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 6.

(b) Transport Trends and Economics 2025–2026

The Working Party may wish to provide guidance and strategic direction for future work in

this area.

(c) Technical assistance to countries with economies in transition

(i) Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity Indicators

The secretariat will present the revamped “Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity

Indicators (SITCIN)” user platform. In response to the request made at the previous session,

this includes enhancements to the platform’s visualization and analytical tools to more

effectively present country-specific analysis results, as well as expanded accessibility

through the addition of French and Russian language versions—thereby broadening its

geographical reach. The update will also cover the integration of new indicator sets related

to transit and border-crossing policies for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), along

with indicators for pandemic and climate change resilience. A brief overview of the new

features is provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 7.

(ii) Regional adviser technical assistance

The Regional Adviser of the ECE Sustainable Transport Division will inform the Working

Party about transport-related technical assistance activities provided by ECE to countries

with economies in transition. Details are provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 8.

(iii) Support for Landlocked Developing Countries

The secretariat will brief the Working Party on the outcomes of the Third United Nations

Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), scheduled to be held from 5 to

8 August 2025 in Awaza, Turkmenistan.

Documentation

Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 6; Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 7; Informal

document WP.5 (2025) No. 8

8. Activities of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe bodies

of interest to the Working Party

The secretariat will inform the Working Party about the main decisions of the eighty-seventh

session of the Inland Transport Committee (Geneva, 11–14 February 2025) on issues of its

interest.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/2025/L.1/Rev.1

9. Working party evaluation report for the period 2024–2025 and updated

biennial and long-term programme of work

As per the adopted biennial and long-term programme of work of the Working Party –

endorsed at its thirty-sixth annual session in September 2023 (ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2023/10)

– the Chair with the support of the secretariat, has prepared an evaluation report covering the

period 2024–2025, along with a new draft biennial programme of work for 2026–2027 and

an updated long-term programme. These reflect both ongoing and newly proposed activities

under the framework of WP.5. The relevant information is contained in document

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

7

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/6. The Working Party is invited to consider, provide feedback on,

and endorse the proposals contained in this document.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2023/10; ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/6

10. Other business

At the time of drafting this provisional agenda, there were no proposals under this item.

11. Date of next session

The next WP.5 session is tentatively scheduled to take place in Geneva on 23–25 September

2026.

12. Adoption of main decisions

In accordance with WP.5 decision at its fifteenth session (TRANS/WP.5/32, para. 56),

decisions taken at the session will be adopted at the end of the session. The report of the

session, including the decisions, will be established by the Chair and Vice-Chairs with the

assistance of the secretariat, for submission to ITC.

Summary and preliminary timeline of the draft agenda for the thirty-eighth annual session of the Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics (WP.5) Geneva, 24–26 September 2025, Palais des Nations

WEDNESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2025 TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT

10:00 – 13:00

a. Coordination Committee on the Trans-Caspian and Almaty-Tehran-Istanbul Corridors Coordination Committee on the management of Euro-Asian Transport Links Route No. 1 Coordinators` progress reports

15:00– 18:00

b. Trans-European Motorway (TEM) and Trans-European Railway (TER) projects, TEN-T and Mediterranean regions

c. International Transport Infrastructure Observatory (ITIO-GIS.org)

THURSDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2025 TRANSPORT AND CLIMATE CHANGE (ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION)

10:00 – 13:00

a. Expert panel discussion “Towards climate resilient transport systems” – presenting the main recommendations of the final report of the Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Inland Transport (WP.5/GE.3)

b. Draft Terms of Reference for a proposed Technical Body on Inland Transport Climate Resilience

15:00 - 18:00

c. Presentation of a draft NDC template for inland transport sector followed by expert round table

d. Progress report on the e- mobility task force including its different thematic clusters

FRIDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2025 INLAND TRANSPORT SECTOR STRATEGIC FORESIGHT SESSION AND DEVELOPMENTS

REGARDING URBAN MOBILITY, CYCLING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

10:00 – 13:00

a. Exploring WP.5’s role in strategic foresight for inland transport

b. Inland transport security- key contributions on the important role of transport in promoting security and stability

15:00 - 18:00

c. Draft terms of reference for a new Group of Experts on the Development of a Cycle Route Network Convention

d. Up-date reports on Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity Indicators (SITCIN.org) and LLDC3

e. WP.5 evaluation report and biennial 2026-2027 programme of work

f. Adoption of decisions of the WP.5 annual session

GE.25-11586 (E)

Economic Commission for Europe

Inland Transport Committee

Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics

Thirty-eighth session

Geneva, 24–26 September 2025

Item 1 of the provisional agenda

Adoption of the agenda

Annotated provisional agenda for the thirty-eighth session*, **

to be held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday,

24 September 2025, Room VIII, Palais des Nations

I. Provisional agenda

1. Adoption of the agenda.

2. Development of transport networks and links:

(a) Euro-Asian Transport Links;

(b) Trans-European Motorway and Trans-European Railway projects;

(c) Trans-European Transport Network;

(d) Transport in the Mediterranean Region;

(e) Other initiatives on the development of transport corridors.

3. Transport infrastructure data:

International Transport Infrastructure Observatory.

4. Transport and climate change:

(a) Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation

for Inland Transport;

* Delegates are kindly requested to bring copies of all relevant documents to the session, as no printed

documentation will be available in the conference room. Prior to the session, documents may be

downloaded from the WP.5 thirty-eighth annual session webpage:

https://unece.org/transport/events/wp5-working-party-transport-trends-and-economics-38th-session. ** Delegates, including those in possession of a long-duration badge, are requested to register online at:

https://indico.un.org/event/1011912/ and to obtain an identification badge at the UNOG Security and

Safety Section, located at the Pregny Gate (14, Avenue de la Paix). In case of difficulty, please contact

the ECE secretariat by phone at +41 22 917 59 75 or by email at: [email protected]. For a map of

the Palais des Nations and other useful information, please consult:

www.unece.org/meetings/practical.html.

United Nations ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

Economic and Social Council Distr.: General

16 July 2025

Original: English

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

2

(b) Implementation of the Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from

Inland Transport.

5. Inland transport security.

6. Sustainable urban mobility, cycling and public transport.

7. Review and monitoring of emerging issues and sustainable development goals:

(a) Transport trends and challenges in the road, rail, and inland waterways sectors;

(b) Transport Trends and Economics 2025–2026;

(c) Technical assistance to countries with economies in transition:

(i) Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity Indicators;

(ii) Regional adviser technical assistance;

(iii) Support for Landlocked Developing Countries.

8. Activities of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe bodies of interest to

the Working Party.

9. Working party evaluation report for the period 2024–2025 and updated biennial and

long-term programme of work.

10. Other business.

11. Date of next session.

12. Adoption of main decisions.

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

3

II. Annotations

1. Adoption of the agenda

In accordance with its rules of procedure, the Working Party on Transport Trends and

Economics (WP.5) will be invited to adopt the provisional agenda for its thirty-eight session.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

2. Development of transport networks and links

(a) Euro-Asian Transport Links

Since the thirty-seventh annual session of WP.5, the Coordination Committee on the Trans-

Caspian and Almaty–Tehran–Istanbul Corridors – convening as a Group of Friends of the

WP.5 Chair – has continued its work to enhance the operationalization of the two corridors,

in line with its agreed biennial programme of work, as set out in document

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2023/1 (annex II). The WP.5 Chair, together with Coordination

Committee members from Georgia and Uzbekistan, which hosted the sixth and seventh

sessions respectively, will report on progress made in operationalizing the corridors since the

previous session. The progress report is contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/1. Certain

data on key infrastructure parameters from countries participating in the Coordination

Committee was submitted to the secretariat at a later stage or remains under review. This

additional information, pertaining to Cluster 1, will be made available in an update contained

in Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 1.

In addition, the Governments of the Russian Federation, Belarus, and Mongolia will present

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/2, which outlines the progress made toward the establishment of

the Coordination Committee for the Management of EATL Railway Route No. 1. The

document also reiterates the mandates underpinning the creation of this Committee and

serves as an information note to the Working Party.

(b) Trans-European Motorway and Trans-European Railway projects

The managers of the Trans-European Motorway (TEM) and Trans-European Railway (TER)

projects will brief the Working Party on activities carried out since the previous session. An

overview of these activities is provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 2.

(c) Trans-European Transport Network

The European Commission will brief the Working Party on recent developments concerning

the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

(d) Transport in the Mediterranean Region

The Mediterranean Transport Study Centre (CETMO) will be invited to update the Working

Party on its recent activities. An overview of these activities is contained in Informal

document WP.5 (2025) No. 3. The European Commission will also be invited to brief the

Working Party on its ongoing efforts in developing the Euro-Mediterranean transport

network.

(e) Other initiatives on the development of transport corridors

Representatives of other organizations and institutions may also wish to brief the Working

Party on their activities related to the operationalization of various transport corridors.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2023/1, annex II; ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/1;

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/2; Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 1;

Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 2; Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 3

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/77

4

3. Transport infrastructure data

International Transport Infrastructure Observatory

The secretariat will provide a progress report and outline next steps regarding the further

development of the International Transport Infrastructure Observatory (ITIO), which is

increasingly used by governments, regional organizations, and other stakeholders.

In addition, the secretariat will provide a brief update on climate resilience aspects discussed

during the 2024 WP.5 Round Table on “Financing Transport Infrastructure for Corridor

Development”, emphasizing ITIO’s role in supporting climate change forecasting and impact

assessment for transport infrastructure.

4. Transport and climate change

(a) Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for

Inland Transport

Under this agenda item, the final report of the Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate

Change Impacts and Adaptation for Inland Transport (WP.5/GE.3), which completed its

mandate in May 2025, will be presented for consideration and endorsement by the Working

Party. The final report is contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/4 and

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/7.

In addition, a dedicated panel discussion entitled “Towards Climate-Resilient Transport

Systems” will be held on the morning of 25 September 2025. The panel will present the key

findings and main recommendations of the Group of Experts’ final report. A brief agenda

and concept note for the panel discussion are provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025)

No. 4.

Following the panel discussion, ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/5, annex I, which contains the

draft Terms of Reference for a proposed Technical Body on Inland Transport Climate

Resilience will be presented to the Working Party.

The proposed Technical Body would operate with an open-ended mandate to support the

implementation of the ITC Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Inland

Transport until 2050 (ECE/TRANS/2024/3), with particular emphasis on the Strategy’s

component addressing effective climate change adaptation.

WP.5 is invited to consider and finalize the draft Terms of Reference and recommend them

for adoption by the Inland Transport Committee at its eighty-eighth session in 2026; it is

proposed that the Technical Body be established as a subsidiary body to WP.5. Upon

endorsement by the Working Party and subsequently by the Inland Transport Committee

(ITC), this new body would be established to build upon the work of the former Group of

Experts (WP.5/GE.3).

(b) Implementation of the Strategy on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Inland

Transport

Following the workshop on the importance of integrating the inland transport sector into

Member States' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement,

held during the thirty-seventh session of WP.5, and mindful of the resulting request to the

secretariat – also supported by the Inland Transport Committee at its eighty-seventh session

– to develop a draft NDC template for inland transport, the Working Party is invited to

consider and discuss the draft proposal contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/3, annex II.

The draft template is intended to assist countries in preparing their overall NDCs and in more

efficiently reporting on ongoing and planned measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas

emissions from inland transport.

As part of this agenda item, a round table will be held on the afternoon of 25 September 2025,

bringing together representatives from interested member States and various mode- and

submode-specific organizations active in this field. The purpose of the round table is to

discuss the proposed NDC template, with a view to assist the Working Party in finalizing and

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endorsing it for submission to ITC at its eighty-eighth session in February 2026. A brief

agenda and concept note for the round table are provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025)

No. 5.

Moreover, mindful of the Working Party’s request at its thirty-seventh annual session that a

progress report on the activities and achievements of the Informal ECE Task Force on

Electric Mobility be presented at its annual session in 2025, the Working Party is invited to

consider ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/3, annex I. The document summarizes key developments

since the first session of the Task Force and highlights the outcomes of its second and third

meetings, held in December 2024 and July 2025, respectively. It also outlines the substantive

progress achieved under the prioritized clusters of work, which have convened actively over

the past year, as identified in the 2024–2025 programme of work.

The Working Party is invited to review the activities of the E-Mobility Task Force in line

with the 2024–2025 work plan and to provide guidance, as it deems appropriate, on the focus

and scope of the 2026 work plan, as well as on the possibility of a one-year extension of the

Task Force’s mandate until 2027, particularly in view of the resource constraints faced by

the ECE secretariat.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/3, annex I and II; ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/4;

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/5, annex I; ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/7; ECE/TRANS/2024/3;

Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 4; Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 5

5. Inland transport security

Under this agenda item, and in line with the biennial programme of work of the Working

Party – under which transport security is addressed from a different angle every two years –

designated keynote statements will be delivered to highlight the important role of transport

in promoting security and stability. This includes the potential of transport systems to restore

confidence and facilitate connectivity in fragile or volatile settings, as well as their broader

relevance in supporting national and regional efforts to enhance preparedness, resilience, and

cooperation in response to evolving security challenges.

6. Sustainable urban mobility, cycling and public transport

Following the endorsement of the final report of the Group of Experts on Cycling

Infrastructure Module (WP.5/GE.5) at the Working Party’s annual session in 2024, and in

line with the request to explore the possible development of a legal instrument on cycling

infrastructure – which received support from ITC at its eighty-seventh session in February

2025 – the Working Party will be invited to consider, finalize, and endorse the draft terms of

reference for a new Group of Experts on the Development of a Cycle Route Network

Convention, as contained in ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/5, annex II, ahead of their submission

to ITC for approval at its annual session in February 2026.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/5, annex II

7. Review and monitoring of emerging issues and sustainable development

goals

(a) Transport trends and challenges in the road, rail, and inland waterways sectors

Under this agenda item, the Working Party will be briefed on the concept of strategic

foresight, including its relevance for transport policymakers in identifying long-term trends,

anticipating emerging risks and opportunities, and informing the development of resilient,

forward-looking transport policies. Break-out sessions on selected case studies may be

organized to support a deeper understanding of the topic and generate concrete outcomes and

recommendations. These outcomes are expected to help shape the future work of WP.5,

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including its possible role in monitoring emerging trends in inland transport as part of its

upcoming biennial programme of work. This strategic foresight introduction session will be

held on Friday, 26 September (a.m.), and a draft agenda and concept note are contained in

Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 6.

(b) Transport Trends and Economics 2025–2026

The Working Party may wish to provide guidance and strategic direction for future work in

this area.

(c) Technical assistance to countries with economies in transition

(i) Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity Indicators

The secretariat will present the revamped “Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity

Indicators (SITCIN)” user platform. In response to the request made at the previous session,

this includes enhancements to the platform’s visualization and analytical tools to more

effectively present country-specific analysis results, as well as expanded accessibility

through the addition of French and Russian language versions—thereby broadening its

geographical reach. The update will also cover the integration of new indicator sets related

to transit and border-crossing policies for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), along

with indicators for pandemic and climate change resilience. A brief overview of the new

features is provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 7.

(ii) Regional adviser technical assistance

The Regional Adviser of the ECE Sustainable Transport Division will inform the Working

Party about transport-related technical assistance activities provided by ECE to countries

with economies in transition. Details are provided in Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 8.

(iii) Support for Landlocked Developing Countries

The secretariat will brief the Working Party on the outcomes of the Third United Nations

Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), scheduled to be held from 5 to

8 August 2025 in Awaza, Turkmenistan.

Documentation

Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 6; Informal document WP.5 (2025) No. 7; Informal

document WP.5 (2025) No. 8

8. Activities of United Nations Economic Commission for Europe bodies

of interest to the Working Party

The secretariat will inform the Working Party about the main decisions of the eighty-seventh

session of the Inland Transport Committee (Geneva, 11–14 February 2025) on issues of its

interest.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/2025/L.1/Rev.1

9. Working party evaluation report for the period 2024–2025 and updated

biennial and long-term programme of work

As per the adopted biennial and long-term programme of work of the Working Party –

endorsed at its thirty-sixth annual session in September 2023 (ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2023/10)

– the Chair with the support of the secretariat, has prepared an evaluation report covering the

period 2024–2025, along with a new draft biennial programme of work for 2026–2027 and

an updated long-term programme. These reflect both ongoing and newly proposed activities

under the framework of WP.5. The relevant information is contained in document

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ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/6. The Working Party is invited to consider, provide feedback on,

and endorse the proposals contained in this document.

Documentation

ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2023/10; ECE/TRANS/WP.5/2025/6

10. Other business

At the time of drafting this provisional agenda, there were no proposals under this item.

11. Date of next session

The next WP.5 session is tentatively scheduled to take place in Geneva on 23–25 September

2026.

12. Adoption of main decisions

In accordance with WP.5 decision at its fifteenth session (TRANS/WP.5/32, para. 56),

decisions taken at the session will be adopted at the end of the session. The report of the

session, including the decisions, will be established by the Chair and Vice-Chairs with the

assistance of the secretariat, for submission to ITC.

Summary and preliminary timeline of the draft agenda for the thirty-eighth annual session of the Working Party on Transport Trends and Economics (WP.5) Geneva, 24–26 September 2025, Palais des Nations

WEDNESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2025 TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND CORRIDOR MANAGEMENT

10:00 – 13:00

a. Coordination Committee on the Trans-Caspian and Almaty-Tehran-Istanbul Corridors Coordination Committee on the management of Euro-Asian Transport Links Route No. 1 Coordinators` progress reports

15:00– 18:00

b. Trans-European Motorway (TEM) and Trans-European Railway (TER) projects, TEN-T and Mediterranean regions

c. International Transport Infrastructure Observatory (ITIO-GIS.org)

THURSDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2025 TRANSPORT AND CLIMATE CHANGE (ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION)

10:00 – 13:00

a. Expert panel discussion “Towards climate resilient transport systems” – presenting the main recommendations of the final report of the Group of Experts on Assessment of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Inland Transport (WP.5/GE.3)

b. Draft Terms of Reference for a proposed Technical Body on Inland Transport Climate Resilience

15:00 - 18:00

c. Presentation of a draft NDC template for inland transport sector followed by expert round table

d. Progress report on the e- mobility task force including its different thematic clusters

FRIDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2025 INLAND TRANSPORT SECTOR STRATEGIC FORESIGHT SESSION AND DEVELOPMENTS

REGARDING URBAN MOBILITY, CYCLING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

10:00 – 13:00

a. Exploring WP.5’s role in strategic foresight for inland transport

b. Inland transport security- key contributions on the important role of transport in promoting security and stability

15:00 - 18:00

c. Draft terms of reference for a new Group of Experts on the Development of a Cycle Route Network Convention

d. Up-date reports on Sustainable Inland Transport Connectivity Indicators (SITCIN.org) and LLDC3

e. WP.5 evaluation report and biennial 2026-2027 programme of work

f. Adoption of decisions of the WP.5 annual session