Brussels, 20/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - EU-Tunisia cooperation was the subject of discussion on Thursday 19 February, between European Commission Vice-President with responsibility for Transport Antonio Tajani and Tunisian Transport Minister Abderrahim Zouari, acting also as President of the 5+5 transport network project (we will return to this).
The two welcomed the privileged nature of the relations which underpin their firm desire to maintain the impetus given to bilateral and regional cooperation, according to a DG Transport press release. Among the projects discussed were the “motorways of the seas”, including the MEDAMOS pilot project (linking the ports of Rades, Marseilles and Genoa) which is receiving technical assistance from the Euro-Mediterranean regional programme. Tajani, according to his staff, marked his interest in the priority projects backed by Tunisia: the deep-water port at Enfidha and the proposed Algerian border railway line. Zouari and Tajani also discussed the proposed rapid rail network for Greater Tunis which is in receipt of partial funding from the Neighbourhood Investment Facility. They agreed to work together to connect the trans-European network to Africa. Tajani said after the meeting that he would visit Tunisia. The discussion provided the opportunity to discuss Tunisia's proposed participation in the common airspace, and the prospect of an air transport agreement. (F.B./transl.rt)