Regulation on implementation of Interbus agreement takes effect

Starting April 1, the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus will be based on INTERBUS authorisations. This provision is part of the agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (INTERBUS Agreement), which the Moldovan parliament ratified on October 21, 2005. According to the motor transport directorate of the Ministry of Transportation and Road Management, only buses manufactured in 1991 will be admitted for international carriages of passengers. At the same time, the owner of a vehicle must hold capital at least 9,000 euros for the first vehicle and at least 5,000 euros for every additional carriage. Also, the motorist must a certificate confirming his professional competence, a document on technical condition of his vehicle which confirms the accordance with the Interbus Agreement. Every bus must have a tachograph to indicate the regime of work and rest of motorist. Earlier, the director of the directorate for foreign relations and European integration in the Ministry of Transportation and Road Management, Iuliana Stasiuc, has stated to Info-Prim Neo that the transport company will present the financial account as a financial guarantee for passengers. Thus, the economic agent will assume all financial responsibility for luggage and even for life of passenger in case of accidents or unexpected situations produced from guilt of transporter, including if he commits an offence in territory of another state. „It is a very good thing for passengers because they will be sure that they will recover both their money for ticket and compensations from economic agent, if they have to sue the transporter,” Stasiuc noted. These regulations are typical for the TIR cargo transport regime for which a financial guarantee is also needed in order to obtain an authorisation. Representatives of transportation companies said that they do not oppose the introduction of new regulations. They say thay only those carrying passengers illegally will have problems. The INTERBUS Agreement entered into force in the European Union on January 1, 2003. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey, Romania and Moldova have joined this agreement until now.