The 10th Conference of Transport Ministers of the Western Mediterranean took place on 6 October 2021 within the framework of the GTMO 5+5. This meeting meant the change of presidency of the group from Mauritania to Malta and the definition of the guidelines for the work of the new presidency.
Jan Hoffmann
Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruption to maritime transport, leading directly to historically high container shipping freight rates, unpredictable schedules, port congestion and supply chain bottlenecks.
Dr. Ian Borg
Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, Government of Malta
Some reflections on this occasion as Malta takes on the Presidency of the Group of Transport Ministers of the Western Mediterranean – GTMO 5+5 for the next two years.
Arianna Norcini Pala
RAM – Logistica, Infrastrutture e Transporti Spa
Maritime transport plays a key role for the European economy, contributing to transport 75% of its external trade and SSS represents around 65% of total cargo traffic among the 335 maritime ports belonging to the TEN-T.
Jordi Selfa Clemente
CETMO
This article aims to reveal the significance of the year 2020 in quantitative terms and, consequently, the impact of the health crisis on trade flows between the two shores of the GTMO 5+5.
Jordi Selfa Clemente
CETMO
Transport flows were clearly affected by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the first quarter of 2020, the resulting health crisis, lockdown and slow recovery process back to normal.
The magnitude of the impact of COVID-19 was evident from the beginning, when home confinements of population, closure of borders, interruption of value chains, definition of priority freight corridors for essential goods and cancellation of flights and cruises took place. With this perspective, CETMO and IEMed launched the initiative “Mediterranean transport and logistics in a post-COVID 19 era: prospects and opportunities”.
Centre for Transportation Studies for the Western Mediterranean
CETMO
The Covid-19 impact on economic and social activity was evident from the beginning causing a global contraction of 3.5% of real GDP by 2020, as well as of 3.9% and 6.6% in MENA and EU regions.
The 10th Conference of Transport Ministers of the Western Mediterranean countries took place on 6th October 2021 within the framework of the activities of the GTMO 5+5.
Olivier Meynot
Directorate General of Civil Aviation, France
If we want to guarantee the development of air transport, the creation of a single aviation market in the Western Mediterranean must be underpinned by harmonization of the regulations.