In connection with the EuroMed Transport project financed by the European Union, the representatives of the Mediterranean countries, beneficiaries of the project (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Malta and Cyprus) met in Paris from 11 to 15 September 2006 and in London the following week, for a railway conference organised by EuroMed Transport, under the aegis of representatives of the European Commission.

The conference focused on the bringing closer, and, possibly, the harmonisation, of the railway regulations applicable in the MEDA countries with European railway directives in order to encourage the development of railway networks with a regional calling and their connection to the Trans-European system.

The main issues on the agenda concerned the liberalisation of railways, the separation of infrastructure and operation, interoperability, financing arrangements. The conference opened at SYSTRA’s head office in Paris on Monday 11 September. The subsequent sessions hosted interventions by representatives of UIC, CEMT, Réseau Ferré de France, SNCF, Veolia and the European Railway Agency. Simultaneously, the MEDA countries introduced their own railway reform and their ambitious plans for development.

The conference then transported itself to London from 18 to 21 September. Interventions were delivered by representatives from the Department for Transport, the Office of Rail Regulation, Network Rail, GB Railfreight and Eurostar.

All the countries in the area (except the Palestinian Territories) demonstrated their interest for the conference by sending representatives.