Efficient international freight transport is vital for the development of the Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area. In 2000, approximately 450 million tonnes of freight was transported to and from the MEDA countries. Almost half of this was crude oil and similar liquid bulk.
Sea is generally the most important mode for unitised (container) and general cargo as well as bulk transport. Short sea roll-on roll-off ferries are significant in the Western Mediterranean too. Road is important in the Eastern Mediterranean for flows between neighbouring countries. In the future, the largest increases will be in unitised freight. Read more about freight transport ... | |
International passenger transport is of two main types. The largest volumes are between Mediterranean Partner and European Union countries. These long distance movements are almost entirely by air. Land is important for shorter distance flows between neighbouring countries in the Eastern Mediterranean. Sea is important on short routes between Morocco and Spain as well as across the Red Sea. Read more about passenger transport ... | |
The core regional transport network, where 'regional' means supporting flows between Mediterranean Partners and other countries, can be considered as a set of corridors. Corridors help focus financial resources for network development in areas of most benefit. See maps of the proposed corridors.
Existing transport infrastructure has evolved over time. There are more than 50 port installations. Rapid development of unitised freight poses the greatest challenge. Airports are generally well-located for the markets they serve. Few airports have flows sufficiently large to develop as interline hubs. Road linkages between MEDA countries and serving ports within each country exist, although road condition and capacity is not always adequate. An extensive rail network exists in many countries. Rail serves well for transporting bulk freight, especially links to ports, but otherwise it is not developed for international transport in its current form.
