As part of our celebrations to mark the 75th Anniversary of COB, we wanted to recognise the key organisational relationships that have been fostered and nurtured over the years.
We felt this was an ideal opportunity to provide some insight on the nature of these vital collaborations and the important role they play in the ongoing operation of COB.
For the inaugural article of this series, we are delighted to publish this piece from UNECE. Given UNECE’s continued, valued partnership with COB and their key role in our establishment in 1949, we are honoured to have received this contribution from Mr Yuwei Li, Director of Sustainable Transport Division at UNECE.
COB would like to express our thanks to Mr. Li and his UNECE colleagues for their valuable contribution.
UNECE and COB have enjoyed a strong partnership from the time of COB’s creation under the auspices of the UNECE Inland Transport Committee’s Working Party on Road Transport (SC.1) in 1949.
After two years of discussion on the matter of cross border motor insurance, SC.1 issued Recommendation No. 5. The objective was to “provid[e] uniform and convenient arrangements for motorists to be adequately insured against third party road risks when entering countries where insurance against such risks is compulsory … this would be most satisfactorily obtained by the introduction of a uniform insurance card.”
The recommendation established the foundation for the creation of the International Motor Insurance Card (“Green Card”) System (“IMIC) whereby the governments of UNECE member States agreed to work with national insurers to establish a central organization (bureau) in each country. As part of this structure, national bureaux were to work together and provide full reimbursement of motor insurance claims paid across borders. The managing organization of IMIC being COB, formerly known as the Council of Bureaux, under the aegis of SC.1.
Over the past 75 years, COB has effectively administered IMIC, and brought stability and leadership to the system. COB shares information on activities, achievements and any special challenges being faced during the annual sessions of SC.1.
Beyond the sessions of SC.1, UNECE and COB have regular dialogue and work closely on a range of matters, from strategic to specific issues. UNECE has been pleased to support COB in fulfilling its dual mission of facilitating free movement in cross border road traffic by removing administrative barriers and to offer a high level of protection to victims of cross border road traffic accidents by facilitating compensation procedures. In recent times, we have discussed the emerging trend of digital transformation. During its 117th session in October 2022, SC.1 approved changes to the International Motor Insurance System to allow for the possibility of IMICs being issued in an electronic form independent of the software, hardware or operating system that it is displayed on.
Another fruit of our collaboration has been the drafting of a Charter of Road Traffic Victims’ Rights in 2021 (together also with the Institute of European Traffic Law).
In 2022, COB assisted all the UN regional commissions in the organization of a successful global workshop for insurance card organizations to exchange information related to their challenges and new initiatives, and to share solutions for common challenges. This was followed by the organization of a second global workshop in 2023 which was hosted by COB in Brussels.
It has been a great pleasure to work together, and on behalf of all at UNECE Sustainable Transport Division, happy 75th birthday! Best wishes for even greater success in your organization’s vision and mission in the coming years. UNECE looks forward to continuing our excellent cooperation with COB in fulfilling our respective mandates.
Yuwei Li, Director, Sustainable Transport Division, UNECE
Since February 2018, Mr. Yuwei Li has been the Director of Sustainable Transport Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Mr. Li started his professional career as a transport engineer in 1983. After 13-years’ service in the fields of inland water, maritime and road transport in various transport institutions of China, he joined UNESCAP Transport Division early 1996 as an officer for inland water transport, and then for transport infrastructure, land transport facilitation and transport policy at different levels. Prior to joining UNECE, he was Director of UNESCAP Transport Division.
