Registration Now Open for International CMR Colloquium celebrating 70 Years of the CMR Convention

With less than three months remaining until the event, registration is now open for one of the year’s most significant international gatherings dedicated to road transport law. The CMR Academy (7 October 2026) and the International CMR Colloquium (8–9 October 2026) will bring together leading transport professionals, insurers, freight forwarders, lawyers and academics to mark the 70th anniversary of the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR).

Jointly organised by the CMR Advisory Council (CMR-AC) and the Faculty of Law of the University of Bucharest, the event will feature 22 distinguished speakers from 13 countries, representing academia, legal practice, the transport industry and the insurance sector.

Seventy years after its adoption in Geneva on 19 May 1956, the CMR Convention continues to form the legal backbone of international road transport across 58 Contracting States. While its fundamental principles remain unchanged, the legal and commercial environment in which it operates is evolving rapidly. Digitalisation, electronic transport documents, cyber fraud, fake and phantom carriers, new insurance challenges and an increasing body of international case law continue to reshape the interpretation and practical application of the Convention.

Against this background, the Bucharest conference will provide a comprehensive review of the most significant legal and commercial developments currently affecting international road transport.

The programme has been designed for a broad international audience, including carriers, freight forwarders, logistics providers, cargo owners, insurers, insurance brokers, claims specialists, lawyers and academics. More importantly, it offers participants an opportunity to exchange practical experience across professional disciplines. Transport operators will be able to discuss legal issues directly with internationally recognised CMR lawyers from numerous jurisdictions, while legal practitioners will gain valuable insight into the operational realities and commercial challenges faced by the transport and insurance industries.

Among the highlights of the programme will be a Round Table, during which leading carriers and freight forwarders will discuss the industry’s current burning issues and exchange practical experience from day-to-day transport operations.

Another distinctive feature will be a live Moot Court, in which academics and students will argue a complex international cargo claim before a simulated court, illustrating how challenging disputes arising under the CMR Convention may develop in practice and how courts approach complex liability questions.

The programme will also address the legal position of freight forwarders, recognising that they frequently conclude contracts of carriage or accept transport orders on behalf of their customers. The conference will examine why the CMR Convention is of fundamental importance not only for carriers but equally for freight forwarders whenever questions of liability arise.

The conference will be opened by three internationally respected figures representing academia and the transport industry:

• Professor Dr. Răzvan Dincă, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Bucharest
• Radu Dinescu, President of the International Road Transport Union (IRU)
• Professor Dr. Frank Smeele, Chairman of the CMR Advisory Council

The event is supported by the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the Institute of International Transport Law (IDIT, France), GRECO Romania and the National Union of Road Hauliers from Romania (UNTRR).

Beyond its academic programme, the conference is expected to become an important networking platform for professionals involved in international road transport. By bringing together transport operators, freight forwarders, insurers, claims specialists, lawyers and academics from across Europe and beyond, the event offers an exceptional opportunity to establish new professional contacts and exchange international experience in an increasingly complex legal environment.

With the conference approaching rapidly, early registration is strongly recommended.

Further information, the full programme and online registration are available at: www.cmr-ac.org.

Registration: https://cmr2026.sciencesconf.org

Participants may also wish to take the opportunity to discover Bucharest, often referred to as the “Little Paris of Eastern Europe.” The Romanian capital combines elegant Belle Époque architecture with impressive modern landmarks, extensive parks and lakes, a vibrant culinary scene and one of the region’s richest cultural and academic traditions.