Euro-Mediterranean cooperation in the transport sector

The aim is to establish a well-connected area for aviation, rail, maritime and road transport

Today transport ministers from 43 countries of the Euro-Mediterranean areamet in Brussels and confirmed their commitment to boost cooperation. The aim is to establish a well-connected area for aviation, rail, maritime and road transport. Regional integration in transport will strengthen economic exchanges and create business opportunities in the Euro-Mediterranean region.

European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said: “Cooperation in the transport sector is key for the social and economic integration of the Mediterranean area. It will facilitate trade, connect people, and bring prosperity on all sides of the Mediterranean.”

In the Joint Declaration released after the Conference Ministers have agreed on:

1. the priorities and guidelines for futurecooperationon regulatory reforms and convergence;
2. the development of the Trans-Mediterranean Transport Network (TMN-T)and its future connection to the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T);
3. the organisation of anotherconference before the end of 2015 to address funding of the development of the TMN-T.

Infrastructure projectsthat have beenfinanced in the areas of road, rail, port and logistics by the EU, the European Investment Bank and the Secretariat of Union for the Mediterranean. These projects will help to build the Trans-Mediterranean Transport Network (TMN-T). For example,the Mediterranean Motorways of the Sea projects aim at identifying the essential maritime connections between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

In 2011, the European Commission presented a plan to build better transport connections with the EU’s neighbours. Since then, the cooperation focuses on removing the barriers to smooth transport and promotes regulatory convergence in areas like safety, security, social affairs and environmental protection. Responding to the 2011 events in the region, the EU also promoted a specific partnership for democracy and shared prosperity for the Southern Mediterranean.