UNTC

STATUS AS AT : 05-12-2024 10:16:08 EDT

CHAPTER XI

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

B. Road Traffic

24. European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals

Geneva, 1 May 1971

Entry into force

3 August 1979, in accordance with article 4(1).

Registration

3 August 1979, No. 17935

Status

Signatories : 12. Parties : 37

Text

Certified true copy

United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 1142, p. 225; and depositary notification C.N.62.1994.TREATIES-1 of 27 May 1995 and doc. E/ECE/TRANS/92/Rev.2 (amendments proposed by Belgium) and C.N. 247.1995.TREATIES-1 of 6 October 1995 (acceptance of the amendments); C.N.1026.2004.TREATIES-1 of 28 September 2004 (proposal of amendments) and C.N.1001.2005.TREATIES-3 of 29 September 2005 (acceptance of amendments).¹

Note

The text of the Agreement was approved by the Inland Transport Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe on 1 May 1971, at its thirtieth session held at Geneva. In accordance with a decision of the Committee at its thirty-first session, held at Geneva from 1 to 4 February 1971, the period during which the Agreement was open for signature (originally from 1 May 1971 to 30 April 1972) was extended to 31 December 1972 (doc. E/ECE/TRANS/568, paragraph 132).

Participant	Signature	Accession(a), Succession(d), Ratification
Albania		6 Jun 2005 a
Austria	15 Dec 1972	11 Aug 1981
Azerbaijan		11 Jul 2011 a
Belarus		17 Dec 1974 a
Belgium	28 Oct 1971	16 Nov 1988
Bosnia and Herzegovina ²		12 Jan 1994 d
Bulgaria		28 Dec 1978 a
Cyprus		16 Aug 2016 a
Czech Republic ³		2 Jun 1993 d
Denmark	2 May 1972	3 Nov 1986
Estonia		30 Nov 1993 a
Finland	22 Dec 1972	1 Apr 1985
France	29 Dec 1972	16 Jan 1974
Georgia		15 May 2001 a
Germany ^{4, 5}	28 May 1971	3 Aug 1978
Greece		18 Dec 1986 a
Hungary	29 Dec 1972	16 Mar 1976
Italy		7 Feb 1997 a
Kazakhstan		7 Jun 2011 a
Latvia		20 Nov 2001 a
Liechtenstein		2 Mar 2020 a
Lithuania		31 Jan 1992 a
Luxembourg	25 May 1971	25 Nov 1975
Montenegro ⁶		23 Oct 2006 d
Netherlands (Kingdom of the) ⁷		8 Nov 2007 a
North Macedonia ²		20 Dec 1999 d
Poland		23 Aug 1984 a
Republic of Moldova		27 Oct 2015 a
Romania	6 Oct 1972	9 Dec 1980
Russian Federation		27 Sep 1974 a
Serbia ²		12 Mar 2001 d
Slovakia ³		28 May 1993 d
Sweden	1 Feb 1972	25 Jul 1985
Switzerland	31 Oct 1972	11 Dec 1991
Türkiye		17 May 2023 a
Turkmenistan		31 Aug 2020 a
Ukraine		30 Dec 1974 a
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	27 Oct 1971

Declarations and Reservations

(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made upon ratification, accession or succession.)

Azerbaijan

Declaration:

“The Republic of Azerbaijan declares that it is unable to guarantee implementation of the provisions of the Agreement in its territories occupied by the Republic of Armenia, until the liberation of those territories from the occupation and complete elimination of consequences of that occupation...”

Reservation:

"In relation to Article 11, the Republic of Azerbaijan declares that it does not consider itself bound by Article 9 of this Agreement."

Belarus

Declaration and reservation:

[ For the text see the declaration and reservation made in respect of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic concluded at Geneva on 1 May 1971 (chapter XI.B-23). ]

Cyprus

Réserve :

“The Republic of Cyprus does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 9 […].”

Czech Republic ³

Czech Republic3

Denmark

[ Same reservations as those under chapter XI.B.20. ]

Estonia

Reservation:

"Estonia does not consider itself bound by article 9 of the Agreement."

Finland

Declaration:

“1 With respect to Annex, paragraph 17 (amendment to Section B of Annex I, paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Convention:

"Signs indicating dangerous descent and steep ascent), Finland reserves the right to use sign A, 2 c of the Convention to indicate a dangerous descent, instead of sign A, 2 a . Similarly sign A, 3 c of the Convention is used to indicate a steep ascent instead of sign A, 3 a ;

"2) With respect to Article 11, paragraph 3, Finland notifies that the reservations Finland has made to Article 18, preamble and paragraphs 4 and 5 of Section F of Annex 5 and paragraph 6 of Section F of Annex 5 of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals shall also apply to the European Agreement Supplementing the Convention."
Reservation:
"With respect to Annex, paragraph 22 (amendment to the Note and Section A of Annex 4 of the Convention):
Prohibition signs, Finland reserves the right to use an oblique red bar in signs corresponding to signs C, 3 a -C, 3 k of the Convention."

5 September 1995

Modification of the text of the reservation made by Finland, as adapted in view of the entry into force of the amendments proposed by Belgium on 31 May 1994 to the 1968 Convention on Road Signs and signals:
"The reservation made by Finland [made upon ratification] also applies to signs C, 3 g to C, 3 h and C, 3 m to C, 3 n to the Annex."

France

With regard to article 23, paragraph 3 bis (b), of the Agreement on Road Signs and Signals, France intends to retain the possibility of using lights placed on the side opposite to the direction of traffic, so as to be in a position to convey meanings different from those conveyed by the lights placed on the side appropriate to the direction of traffic.

Germany ⁵

Germany5

Reservations:

Ad paragraph 3 of the annex

(Article 1, sub-paragraph (l) of the Convention):

The Federal Republic of Germany does not consider itself bound by paragraph 3 of the annex (article 1, sub-paragraph (l) of the Convention).
Ad paragraph 15 of the annex
Article 33, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph (a), No. (i) of the Convention):
The Federal Republic of Germany does not consider itself bound by paragraph 15 of the annex (article 33, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph (a) No. (i) of the Convention).

Hungary

[ Same reservation and declarations, mutatis mutandis, as those made in respect of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic concluded at Geneva on 1 May 1971 (chapter XI.B-23). ]

Liechtenstein

Reservation with regard to the annex, item 9 ad Article 10 of the Convention, paragraph 6

"The Principality of Liechtenstein reserves the right to provide in its national legislation, as an advance warning sign for sign B 2a, for an identical sign with an additional panel model H 1 as indicated in annex 1, section H."

Reservation with regard to the annex, item 9 bis ad Article 13 bis of the Convention, and item 22 ad annex 1, section E, subsection II of the Convention

"The Principality of Liechtenstein does not consider itself bound by the provisions of items 9 bis and 22 of the annex."

Reservation with regard to the annex, item 12 ad Article 24 of the Convention, paragraph 2

"The Principality of Liechtenstein reserves the right to provide in its national legislation for the use of the three-colour system for light signals for pedestrians, in accordance with article 24, paragraph 2, of the Convention."

Declaration with regard to the reservations made under the Convention on Road Signs and Signals

"The relevant reservations of the Principality of Liechtenstein on the [Convention of 1968 on Road Signs and Signals] also apply to this Agreement."

Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

Reservations:

"With reference to part 22 of the Annex and the Appendix to this Annex to the European Agreement, a reservation is made with respect to the no entry sign for vehicles carrying more than a certain quantity of explosives or readily inflammable substances or of substances liable to cause water pollution.

With reference to part 19 amending the Annex to the European Agreement, a reservation is made with respect to the no entry sign for vehicles carrying more than a certain quantity of explosives or readily inflammable substances and the no entry sign for vehicles carrying more than a certain quantity of substances liable to cause water pollution."

Poland ⁸

Poland8

Declaration:

The Polish People's Republic will use symbol A, 2c (dangerous descent) instead of symbol A, 2 a , and symbol A, 3 c (steep ascent) instead of symbol A,3a provided for in item 17 of the annex to the aforesaid Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Annex 1, Section B, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the Convention on Road Signs and Signals.

Romania

Reservation and declarations:

[ For the text see the reservation and declarations made in respect of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic concluded at Geneva on 1 May 1971 (chapter XI.B-23). ]

Russian Federation

Declaration and reservation:

[ For the text see the declaration and reservation made in respect of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic concluded at Geneva on 1 May 1971 (chapter XI.B-23). ]

Slovakia ³

Slovakia3

Sweden

"With respect to paragraph 22 of the annex, signs C, 3 a to C, 3 k shall incorporate an oblique bar."

"The reservations of Sweden to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals also apply to this Agreement."

With regard to article 9:

"Sweden opposes that disputes in which it is involved shall be referred to arbitration."

Switzerland ¹

Switzerland1

Reservations:

Annex, number 9 (article 10, paragraph 6, of the Convention):

       Switzerland reserves the right to provide in its national legislation, as an advance warning sign for sign B 2a , for an identical sign with an additional panel (model H, 1) as indicated in annex 1, section H.
Annex, numbers 9bis and 22 (article 13 bis and annex 1, section E, subsection II, paragraph 7, of the Convention)
       Switzerland does not consider itself bound by the provisions of numbers 9 bis and 22 of the annex.
Annex, paragraph 12 (article 24, paragraph 2, of the Convention)
       Switzerland reserves the right to provide in its national legislation for the use of the three-colour system for light signals for pedestrians, in accordance with article 24, paragraph 2, of the Convention.

Türkiye

Reservation

1. In relation to paragraph 1 of Article 11 of the European Agreement, the Republic of Türkiye declares that it does not consider itself bound by Article 9 of the Agreement.

2. With respect to point 22 of the Annex of the European Agreement (amendment to Annex 1, section E, subsection II, paragraph 7, subparagraphs (a) and (b) of the Convention), the Republic of Türkiye reserves the right to use signs E, 7d and E, 8d .

3. With respect to point 23 of the Annex of the European Agreement (amendment to Annex 1, section F, subsection II, paragraph 1 of the Convention), the Republic of Türkiye reserves the right to use symbol F, 1b .

4. With respect to point 25 of the Annex of the European Agreement (amendment to Annex 1, section G, subsection III, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Convention), the Republic of Türkiye reserves the right to use signs G, 4 c and G, 6c.

Declaration

Türkiye’s decision to become a party to the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, and its supplements, should in no way be construed as implying any form of recognition of the Greek Cypriot Administration’s pretention to represent the “Republic of Cyprus”, nor as implying any obligation on the part of Türkiye to enter into any dealing with authorities or institutions of the so-called “Republic of Cyprus” within the framework of the activities specified in the said Convention and its supplements.

Ukraine

Declaration and reservation:

[ For the text see the declaration and reservation made in respect of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic concluded at Geneva on 1 May 1971 (chapter XI.B-23). ]

Objections

(Unless otherwise indicated, the objections were made
upon ratification, accession or succession.)

Cyprus

26 April 2024

With regard to the declaration made by Türkiye upon accession:

“The Republic of Cyprus has examined the Declaration deposited by the Republic of Türkiye on 17 May 2023, upon accession to the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals (1971), and notes that such a declaration is not in conformity with the Agreement. By means of the submitted Declaration, Türkiye purports to release itself of the obligation to cooperate with other States Parties within the framework of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals. Moreover, in its Declaration Türkiye puts forward, once again, the untenable position concerning the non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, a member of, among others, the United Nations and the European Union. In the view of the Republic of Cyprus, the Declaration of Türkiye is compatible neither with Article 11 of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals nor the object and purpose thereof given that the allegations contained therein are irrelevant to the content of the Agreement. In light of the above, it is the position of the Republic of Cyprus that the content and purported effect of this Declaration submitted by the Republic of Türkiye is in contravention of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals.

The Republic of Cyprus, therefore, rejects the aforementioned Declaration made by the Republic of Türkiye, which cannot in any way affect the obligations of the Republic of Türkiye towards the Republic of Cyprus both under general international law and the said Agreement and considers it null and void. The objection of the Republic of Cyprus shall not preclude the entry into force of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals, in its entirety, between the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Türkiye.”

Greece

22 May 2024

With regard to the declaration made by Türkiye upon accession:

“The Hellenic Republic has examined the declaration made by the Republic of Türkiye upon accession, on 17 May 2023, to the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Signs and Signals (1971) (“the Agreement”).

The Republic of Türkiye inter alia declares that its accession to the Agreement does not imply any obligation on the part of Türkiye to enter into any dealing with authorities or institutions of the Republic of Cyprus within the framework of the activities specified in the said Agreement.

The Government of the Hellenic Republic reiterates its view that the above declaration amounts to a reservation, as it purports to exclude the application of the Agreement in its entirety between Türkiye and another State Party, i.e. the Republic of Cyprus. In addition, the untenable position put forward by Türkiye concerning the non-recognition of the Republic of Cyprus, a member of, among others, the United Nations and the European Union, is neither relevant to nor compatible with the content of the Agreement, its object and purpose.

Therefore, the Hellenic Republic objects to the declaration in question.

This objection does not preclude the entry into force of the Agreement between the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Türkiye.”

Notifications

(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made upon ratification, accession or succession.)

Azerbaijan

Notification under Article 6 (8):

“In accordance with Article 6 (8), the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan (address: AZ1005, Baku city, Azerbaijan avenue 7) is the administration competent in the matter of agreement as contemplated in Article 6 (7) of the above-mentioned Agreement.”

Liechtenstein

Notification with regard to Art. 6, paragraph 8

"The administration competent in the matter of agreement as contemplated in paragraph 7 of Article 6 shall be:

National Road Office

Gewerbeweg 2

9490 Vaduz

info.asv@llv.li"

End Note

1The Secretary-General received the following communications from the Contracting Parties as indicated hereinafter:

Germany (26 May 1995) :

The Federal Republic of Germany agrees to the proposals subject to the following reservation:

Reservation on Annex I, section C, subsection II, No. 1 to the Convention

The Federal Republic reserves the right to define the meaning of sign C., 3n "No entry for vehicles carrying more than a certain quantity of substances liable to cause water pollution" as follows:

"No entry for vehicles with a water endangering cargo."

Switzerland (23 May 1995):

[The Government of Switzerland] has no objection to the amendments proposed by Belgium. The reservations entered previously [with regard to the Agreement] are hereby abrogated and replaced by the following: ( see under "Reservations and Declarations") .

Those reservations made with regard to the Agreement made upon ratification and which were abrogated read as follows:

Ad number 9 of the annex (article 10, paragraph 6, of the Convention)

Switzerland reserves the right to make provision in its domestic legislation, to give advance warning of sign B,2 a , for an identical sign supplemented by a panel conforming to model 1, reproduced in annex 7 to the Convention.

Ad numbers 10 and 27 of the annex (article 18, paragraph 2, and annex 5, section C, of the Convention) Switzerland does not consider itself bound by the provisions of numbers 10 and 27 of the annex. Ad number 12 of the annex (article 24, paragraph 2, of the Convention) Switzerland reserves the right to make provision in its domestic legislation for the three-colour system for light signals for pedestrians, pursuant to article 24, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Ad number 22 of the annex (annex 4, section A, number 2, letter (a) (iii), of the Convention) Switzerland reserves the right to enact, in its domestic legislation, regulations specifying that access to roadsrked by aditional sign No. 1, reproduced in the appendix to the annex, is prohibited for vehicles transporting dangerous goods of any type. Less than one third of the Contracting Parties having informed the Secretary-General that they reject the said proposed amendments within the period of twelve months following the date of their circulation (i.e. 27 May 1994), and in accordance with article 6(2)(a) of the Agreement, the proposed amendments are deemed to have been accepted. The amendments entered into force on 27 November 1995.The amendments relating to annex I, section C, subsection II of the Convention will enter into force for Germany only as modified by the reservation.

Other amendments were proposed by various States and adopted as follows:

3
Object of the amendment:	Proposed by:	Date of circulation and Entry into force:
Agreement*	Russian Federation	28 September 2004. EIF: 28 Mar 2006

* In this regard, communications were received by the following States ont the dates indicated hereinafter:

Switzerland (26 September 2005):

“... Switzerland has no objection to the proposed amendment transmitted on 28 September 2004.

Finland (28 September 2005):

“Finland has no objection to the proposed amendment transmitted on 28 September 2004.

The Government of Finland furthermore informed the Secretary-General of the following:

“ ... the Government of Finland wishes to recall that the acceptance of the amendments shall not affect the reservations made by the Government of Finland to the said Agreement.”

2The former Yugoslavia had acceeded to the Agreement on 6 June 1977. See also note 1 under “Bosnia and Herzegovina”, “Croatia”, “former Yugoslavia”, “Slovenia”, “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and “Yugoslavia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.

3Czechoslovakia had acceded to the Agreement on 7 June 1978, with the same reservation and declaration, mutatis mutandis , as those made in respect of the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic concluded at Geneva on 1 May 1971 (chapter XI.B-23). For the text of the reservation and the declaration, see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 1137, p. 416. See also note 1 under “Czech Republic” and note 1 under “Slovakia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.

4See note 1 under “Germany” regarding Berlin (West) in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.

5The German Democratic Republic had acceded to the Agreement on 18 August 1975 with the same reservation and declarations as those made for the European Agreement supplementing the Convention on Road Traffic of 1 May 1971 (chapter XI.B-23). For the text of the reservation and declarations, see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 1137, p. 417. See also note 2 under “Germany” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.

6See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.

7For the Kingdom in Europe.

8On 16 October 1997, the Government of Poland notified the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw its reservation with regard to article 9 of the Agreement made upon accession. For the text of the reservation see United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 1365, p. 351.

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