High-Level Workshop

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

Ref.: UNECE/2025/TRANS/55

10 September 2025

Dear Mr. Kuningas,

I have the pleasure to inform you that the Working Party on Rail Transport (SC.2) will hold its seventy-ninth session 12–14 November 2025 in Geneva at the Palais des Nations. During the session a High-Level Workshop on “Making liberalisation work for passengers and freight – challenges and opportunities” will be held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva starting at 10 a.m. on 12 November 2025.

The main objective of this Workshop is to discuss the progress to date and future plans for liberalisation and reform in the rail sector, identifying successes, challenges and opportunities. Discussions will focus on challenging the status quo and sharing of good practices within member States and at the multinational level.

In order to make this important event a success, I am pleased to invite you to nominate a speaker for the Workshop. To provide the audience sufficient time for discussion but also to ensure intervention by as many countries/organizations as possible. I encourage you to include in the presentation thought-provoking ideas and specific recommendations to stimulate a lively exchange and to contribute to future actions.

I would appreciate receiving your reply at your earliest convenience, but no later than 10 October 2025. Upon confirmation, the nominated speaker will be contacted by one of my colleagues to discuss the details regarding the program of the Workshop.

Registration information for the session is available at the bottom of the first page of the agenda (attached) and available at: https://unece.org/transport/events/working-party-rail- transport-sc2-79th-session. I would like to highlight that at this session important discussions will be held in relation to the rail related legal agreements, including the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Rail as identified in the agenda. I invite you to actively participate in these discussions.

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

The meeting will be only in-person in Geneva. If you have any questions regarding this workshop or the wider Working Party session, do not hesitate to contact Mr. Francesco Dionori, Chief of Section and Secretary to the Working Party (tel.: +41 22 917 4709, e-mail: [email protected]).

I look forward to welcoming you and your experts at our Working Party session.

Sincerely,

Dmitry Mariyasin Deputy Executive Secretary

Officer-in-Charge Sustainable Transport Division

cc: Focal points of SC.2

p.p.

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

Ref.: UNECE/2025/TRANS/55

10 September 2025

Dear Mr. Kuningas,

I have the pleasure to inform you that the Working Party on Rail Transport (SC.2) will hold its seventy-ninth session 12–14 November 2025 in Geneva at the Palais des Nations. During the session a High-Level Workshop on “Making liberalisation work for passengers and freight – challenges and opportunities” will be held in the Palais des Nations, Geneva starting at 10 a.m. on 12 November 2025.

The main objective of this Workshop is to discuss the progress to date and future plans for liberalisation and reform in the rail sector, identifying successes, challenges and opportunities. Discussions will focus on challenging the status quo and sharing of good practices within member States and at the multinational level.

In order to make this important event a success, I am pleased to invite you to nominate a speaker for the Workshop. To provide the audience sufficient time for discussion but also to ensure intervention by as many countries/organizations as possible. I encourage you to include in the presentation thought-provoking ideas and specific recommendations to stimulate a lively exchange and to contribute to future actions.

I would appreciate receiving your reply at your earliest convenience, but no later than 10 October 2025. Upon confirmation, the nominated speaker will be contacted by one of my colleagues to discuss the details regarding the program of the Workshop.

Registration information for the session is available at the bottom of the first page of the agenda (attached) and available at: https://unece.org/transport/events/working-party-rail- transport-sc2-79th-session. I would like to highlight that at this session important discussions will be held in relation to the rail related legal agreements, including the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Rail as identified in the agenda. I invite you to actively participate in these discussions.

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

The meeting will be only in-person in Geneva. If you have any questions regarding this workshop or the wider Working Party session, do not hesitate to contact Mr. Francesco Dionori, Chief of Section and Secretary to the Working Party (tel.: +41 22 917 4709, e-mail: [email protected]).

I look forward to welcoming you and your experts at our Working Party session.

Sincerely,

Dmitry Mariyasin Deputy Executive Secretary

Officer-in-Charge Sustainable Transport Division

cc: Focal points of SC.2

p.p.