EURO-MEDITERRANEAN COOPERATION
Background:
The Barcelona Declaration, adopted at the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in November 1995, brought to light the need to link the transport networks in the Mediterranean region to the Trans-European Transport Network and to promote the creation of links between countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean with the aim of facilitating trade and strengthening Euro-Mediterranean cooperation.
The work programme annexed to the Barcelona Declaration stated that cooperation should focus on:
- The development of an efficient trans-Mediterranean multimodal combined sea and air transport system.
- The development of east-west land links on the southern and eastern shores of the Mediterranean.
- The connection between Mediterranean transport networks and the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) in order to ensure their interoperability.
Subsequent Conferences of Ministers of Foreign Affairs (Lisbon 1997, Helsinki 1997 and Valencia 2003) acknowledged the importance of efficient transport links between the EU and the 12 MEDA countries - and also between the Mediterranean partner countries themselves - with the aim of developing business and trade flows.
The 1997 Lisbon Conference witnessed the creation of the Euro-Mediterranean Transport Forum in 1998 (15 EU Member States plus the 12 MEDA countries). Subsequent Forums were held in Malta in 1999 and Brussels in 2000. The aim of the Euro-Mediterranean (EuroMed) Transport Forum is to encourage reflection on the regional development of cooperation in the transport industry throughout the Mediterranean. Since its creation, the Forum has met six times, when the progress of the different thematic working groups has been reviewed (Navigation by Satellite, Network and Infrastructure, Maritime Transport and Air Transport).
