Western Mediterranean countries to boost transportation projects

2008-11-19

The group of "5+5" concluded its annual meeting on Monday, promising to prioritise Maghreb transportation networks and to alter legislation to meet demands.

By Mona Yahia for Magharebia in Tunis – 19/11/08

[Getty Images] Tunisian Minister of Transportation Abderrahim Zouari said co-operation has improved between Maghreb countries.

Ministers of transportation from western Mediterranean countries called on Monday (November 17th) for development of sea routes in the Mediterranean to put to best use the seaports on both sides.

The call came as the countries closed the fifth annual meeting of the western Mediterranean countries, also known as the group of 5+5. The group consists of Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and Malta on the European side, and Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Mauritania on the African side. The group monitors and regulates transportation, development and illegal immigration in the member states.

The ministers also encouraged the completion of the transportation network within the Maghreb countries, including highways, railways, and sea ports.

"Co-operation among the Maghreb countries, especially in transportation and building sea routes and highways, has progressed," said Tunisian Minister of Transportation Abderrahim Zouari at a news conference.

One of the priority projects of the group is the modernization of the trans-Maghreb railway route that goes through Tunis, Algiers and Casablanca.

Karim Ghellab, Moroccan Minister of Transportation, said that one obstacle in the way of developing transport networks in the Maghreb countries is financing. He called on European states to shoulder the projects and come up with solutions to finance the multi-modal Maghreb network.

The 5+5 members decided to study the possibility of the EU financing cross-border links to build the Maghreb Union highway.

The western Mediterranean countries, headed by Tunisia this year, will meet again next year to assess the progress of the 2007-2009 agenda. They will also set the priorities for 2009-2011 and transfer chairmanship of the group to Italy.

In their final statement, the transportation ministers agreed to simplify legislation governing international transport in their countries, and to harmonise laws between the EU and the southern states to facilitate co-operation.