1. LOGISTICS, PORTS AND TRAINS:
THE MEDITERRANEAN RAIL FREIGHT CORRIDOR
AND THE COMPLETION OF THE INTERNAL MARKET
CONFERENCE
WEDNESDAY, 2 JUNE 2010
18:45 - 20:45
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT - ROOM: JAN 4Q1
GUY VERHOFSTADT, PRESIDENT OF THE ALDE GROUP
JAN ERIC PAQUET, DIRECTOR TEN-T, DG MOVE, EUROPEAN
COMMISSION
JORDI PUJOL, FORMER PRESIDENT OF CATALUNYA (1980-2003)
RAMON TREMOSA -I-BALCELLS , CATALAN MEP, ALDE GROUP
In the context of the broad review process of the trans-
European transport network policy (TEN-T), that the European
Commission initiated last year, it has become crucial for the EU to
address the problematic linked to logistics, ports and trains for the
economic development of a the Mediterranean areas and for the EU.
The Mediterranean rail freight corridor is part of the FERRMED Great
Axis network (www.ferrmed.com) and has a real trans-European
character. It encompasses the zone of the most important economic
and logistic activity, including the major ports and airports, of the
European Union. The main objectives of this project are to improve
the general competitiveness of the European Union through
the improvement of Port and Airport connections with their
respective hinterlands, to create a Great Rail Freight Axis around
Scandinavia-Rhine-Rhone-Western Mediterranean, and to
achieve more sustainable development through the reduction of
pollution and carbon emissions.

2. These objectives go hand in hand with the European Commission’s
concerns over the future political and economic challenges such as
the achievement of the climate change objectives, further
economic growth, economic and social cohesion as well as the
strengthening of Europe's international role.
The idea of Trans-European Networks (TEN) emerged at the end of
the 1980s in connection with the proposed integrated single
market. European policymakers believed that it made little sense
to talk about an integrated market, with freedom of movement for
goods, persons and services, without providing transportation,
energy and telecommunications networks that linked the regions
making up that market. Furthermore, they believed that
construction of these networks would help spur economic growth
and employment.
The "Spanish exception" (a different gauge than the European one)
represents a concrete obstacle to more efficient and competitive
European freight transport logistics. The European Union has to
increase its efforts to remove such a bottle neck in order to
complete its Internal Market. The potential opportunities of the
Mediterranean rail freight corridor are huge.
On this occasion, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells will also present the
English version of his latest book on Logistics and the potential of
the Mediterranean Ports:
http://www.sussex-
academic.co.uk/sa/titles/economics_banking/Tremosa-i-Balcells.htm
Per raons de logística, si us plau, els hi demanaria que confirmessin l'assistència a la
conferència com a molt tard al dia 21 de maig a aquest e-mail:
ramon.tremosa@europarl.europa.eu. Tanmateix, els hi demanaria que ens facilitessin la
seva data de naixement i el seu nom i cognom doncs els hi hauríem de preparar el Badge
per entrar al Parlament Europeu.
Ben cordialment,
Oficina del Eurodiputat Ramon Tremosa i Balcells.