For four decades, the IRU Commission on Legal Affairs, made up of distinguished lawyers from 35 countries, has been monitoring and analysing the legal environment of passenger and goods transport by road so as to inform the transport industry and to foster a legal framework which is favourable to road transport. This work is greatly facilitated by the IRU’s privileged relations with international governmental organisations ( in particular the UN in Geneva and Vienna, EU in Brussels, UNIDROIT in Rome, the CIS in Moscow, the Hague Conference on Private International Law) and international professional organisations (in particular the ICC, FIATA, UFTAA and IH&RA).
The IRU’s consultative status with several governmental organisations enables CAJ Members to participate in their meetings and contribute to the drafting of several international legal instruments relating to road transport.
Close ties to international professional organisations enable the CAJ to initiate or participate in work of common interest. In the fields which do not require intergovernmental agreements, the CAJ develops – in cooperation with the same professional organisations – various drafts for road transport which come under the so-called Lex Mercatoria.
Several major projects for the road transport industry which do not require multi-industry consultations are drafted by the CAJ in cooperation with IRU National Member Associations.
The CAJ thus contributes to improving and harmonising road transport related law, simplifying road transport procedures, facilitating contractual relations between carriers and their customers and to supporting regional and national efforts in this field.
