Governance of Transport Corridors in OIC Member States:
Challenges, Cases and Policy Lessons
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National Co-ordinators (NC) are appointed by each regional participant with the role to act as technical
support to SEETO cooperation and as interface between the respective regional participant and the
SEETO Secretariat.
Working Groups (WG) are formed by experts delegated by the respective national authorities; they
include representatives of each regional participant and of the European Commission, (DG MOVE) and
they report to the Steering Committee. AWorking Group on Railways and Inter-modality is established
in 2006 and Road Safety Working Group is established by the SC in 2009. Apart from best practice
exchange, Working Groups contribute to promotion of harmonization in transport sector and monitor
implementation of soft measures.
The governance institutions laid down in the Transport Community Treaty are built upon the existing
structure and include a Ministerial Council, Regional Steering Committee, Permanent Secretariat, and
Technical Committee. The Treaty also introduces a new institution, the Social Forum, aimed at
incorporating social partners in the governance process in order to include social themes such as
labour laws, worker rights, health and safety of workers and equal opportunities between men and
women.
Corridor secretariat established
SEETO was established in 2004, upon signing the MoU. An agreement on the location of the secretariat
was signed in 2005. The recently signed Transport Community Treaty foresees to replacement of the
SEETO secretariat by a Transport Community Secretariat. The location of the new secretariat is yet to
be determined.
Responsibilities and working principles
The SEET Secretariat’s overall task is to assist in the implementation of the MoU. It has no executive
powers, but its work underpins the entire SEETO network. Responsibilities are:
1. Duties directly and indirectly relating to the development and maintenance of the SEETO
comprehensive network;
2. Public related/ ‘Soft’ issues: duties related to supporting RPs in developing and implementing
policies in areas such as interoperability, regulatory reforms, safety aspects, public participation,
institutional capacity building etc.;
3. Information exchange and dissemination, public visibility: collection, exchange and distribution of
information covering the regional transport sector. The tasks also contribute towards public
visibility and awareness of SEETO, it main role and responsibilities and its structures;
4. Management and Back Office: preparing meetings, update website, prepare Annual Action Plan
(SEETO, 2011).
Participation of local authorities and the private sector
Local authorities do not have a direct influence in the governance of SEETO. Local authorities may
participate in working groups. According to the MoU, SEETO aims to involve the private sector in the
following way:
 The Participants intend to provide for maximum private sector involvement in the development,
operation and use of the Network;
 Dialogue with the private sector and the international financial institutions should take place
during the planning and implementation stages of project studies. The private sector should be kept