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3.3. The ratification process
Currently, the ratification process of the Transport Protocol is still going on. Up to now,
different countries have reached different stages and, as in the case of a bicycle race
across the Alps, we can distinguish between the tearaway leaders, the field and the tail
ender.
3.3.1. The tearaway leaders
As already mentioned above, eight out of nine contracting parties have signed, and three
of them have even ratified the Transport Protocol. Like in the case of the Alpine
Convention, these countries are Austria, Germany and Liechtenstein, which all ratified
the Protocol during the International Year of Mountains 2002. For these leading
countries, the Transport Protocol entered into force on 18 December 2002 54 .
3.3.2. The field
The remaining 5 contracting parties, which have already signed the Transport Protocol,
are currently somewhere in the middle of the ratification process.
France
On 23 April 2003, the French Government has submitted a proposition to ratify all
remaining Protocols, including the Transport Protocol. It is expected, that the
Parliament will decide within the year 2003 55 .
Italy
In Italy, the Chamber of Deputies approved the Transport Protocol with a large majority
of 363 out of 369 voting deputies at its session of 19 November 2002 56 . Now, the file
has to be dealt by the Senate.
54 See supra. note 40.
55 "Alpenkonventionsprotokolle in Frankreich auf der Zielgeraden". (2003) 15 alpMediaNews 4.
56 Resoconto stenografico dell Assemblea. Seduta n. 225 del 19/11/2002, p.30.