Brussels, 19/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 18 June a meeting took place at the premises of the FERRMED association, in preparation of a conference at the end of June in Brussels. FERRMED brings more than 90 members, companies and regions together in a railway network construction project that focuses on freight between Finland and Spain. As well as the link between ports, airports and this European railway axis, the association Secretary General, Joan Amorós, explained that there was a determination to create as ambitious standards at FERRMED as possible, which would possibly be applied throughout Europe. These standards focus on a certain railway mesh density with certain kinds of terminals for trains that are heavy, fast and sometimes 1500 metres in length. “The first objective is to improve EU competitiveness” he said, “all regions and companies that know about the project are interests but the real challenge will be harmonisation of different standards in each country!”. Just as other existing systems are being studied, such as the Australian system, the conference will take place on 26 June in Brussels. It aims to help identify the possible challenges and obstacles to the project. The European Commission is already supporting it. (A.D./transl. R.H.)