This glossary provides definitions of the terms used in each search interface of the database. For each page, the names of the search fields and the various options available to the user are indicated. By providing detailed explanations and interpretations of these terms, this glossary aims to improve user understanding, ensure the clarity of the information, and facilitate searches.
Legal instruments
Geographical coverage
Global: A global legal instrument is a document that covers more than two countries in different regions.
Regional: A legal instrument with a regional scope refers to a legal document that covers more than two countries in the same region.
Other: Other coverage that cannot be classified as the above criterion.
Legal nature
Treaties and other international agreements: "Treaty" means an international agreement concluded between States in written form and governed by international law, whether embodied in a single instrument or in two or more related instruments and whatever its particular designation (Source: Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties).
National laws: A binding rule or body of rules prescribed by the government of a sovereign state that holds force throughout the regions and territories within the government's dominion. (Source: United Nations Environment Programme)
Contractual agreements: A contractual agreement is a legally binding agreement between two parties. (Source: contracts counsel)
Recommendations/guidelines: Recommendations are suggestions or advice given based on expertise, experience, or established best practices. They are not typically legally binding but are proposed as guidance to help individuals, organizations, or entities make informed decisions or take appropriate actions. Guidelines are sets of instructions, principles, or rules intended to direct behavior, actions, or processes in a particular area. They provide a framework or structure for achieving specific objectives or adhering to established standards.
Implementation instruments
Geographical scope
International: It refers to an instrument that covers more than two countries in different regions.
Regional: It refers to an instrument that covers more than two countries in the same region.
Bilateral: It refers to an instrument involving only two countries from any region.
National: It is an instrument that applies to the territory and population of a specific country.
Other: Other scopes that cannot be classified as the above criterion.
Standard nature
International standard: An international standard is a document that has been developed through the consensus of experts from many countries and is approved and published by a globally recognized body. (Source: International Electrotechnical Commission).
Industry-specific standard: Industry-specific standards are guidelines and specifications developed by regulatory bodies or industry organizations to ensure compliance, consistency, and best practices within a particular field or sector. (Source: Guidde)
Technical recommendations from international bod(ies): Technical recommendations from international bodies refer to guidance, advice, or suggestion provided by organizations that focus on specific fields such as technology, health, standards, finance, and more.
Proprietary solution: A proprietary solution refers to a product, technology, software, or system that is owned, developed, and controlled by a specific company or entity. In this context, "proprietary" means that the rights, intellectual property, and source code of the solution are exclusive to the company that created it, and they have the authority to determine its use, modification, distribution, and licensing terms.
Projects Interactive Map
Coverage
Global project: A project is classified as global when it covers more than two countries in different regions.
Regional project: A regional project covers more than two countries in the same region.
Bilateral project: A bilateral project is a project involving only two countries from any region.
Status
Operating: A project is categorized as ‘operating’ when it is running and carrying out the intended activities.
Pilot-project: A pilot project mean that a small scale or trail version of a project is conducted for test.
Terminated: A project is classified as ‘terminated’ when it has been formally ended or discontinued.
Other: Other status that cannot be classified as the above criterion.
Business category (for Services Interactive Map as well)
Commercial transactions: This includes documents applied between commercial parties in the production, sale and purchase phases of a transaction. (Source: Economic Commission for Europe)
Forwarding and cargo handling: The logistics and management of transporting goods from one location to another. The documents required in the procedures incidental to the transport and related to interface between trading partners and carriers. The type of documents are instructions from customers to forwarders, good receipts, advice documents, authorizations and instructions, and administrative documents. (Source: Economic Commission for Europe).
Transport: This includes documents required for the transport of goods moving in international trade; those which are related to local, transport (cartage) and services connected with transport are dealt with elsewhere. This includes contracts documents, receipt document, contents documents, administrative and legal documents, notification documents. (Source: Economic Commission for Europe).
Insurance: This includes documents required for insurance of goods moving in international trade, including the payment of insurance premiums. The type of documents are insurance agreements, notification documents, administrative documents. (Source: Economic Commission for Europe).
Regulatory/official controls: This includes documents relevant to government authorities to control the international goods flows. (Source: Economic Commission for Europe).
Payment: Includes documents related to the requirements of banks to ensure payment; The documents exchanged between partners in international trade and their banks, and between banks, for payments related to commercial transactions. It involves instructions (or application) from customers to banks concerning a payment to be affected, and advice or information from banks to customers or to beneficiaries of payments. (Source: Economic Commission for Europe).
Other: Other activities that cannot be classified as the above criterion. (Source: Economic Commission for Europe).