UIC participated as an observer in the tenth Conference of Transport Ministers of the Countries of the Western Mediterranean, GTMO 5+5, composed of Transport Ministers and their top-level experts from Algeria, France, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Spain and Tunisia.

The conference marked a change in the GTMO 5+5 presidency, which passed over to Malta.

The Transport Ministers, their representatives, and observer entities addressed issues relating to the development of a safe, sustainable and efficient transport network, digitalisation, integrated connectivity, development and connection of transport infrastructure through interoperability rules and standards, collaboration at regional level with the transport sector acting as a catalyst while seeking industry-driven solutions, providing the economy with investments and creating jobs in the post-pandemic environment.

UIC also delivered a presentation during the Medthink 5+5 technical experts’ meeting held on 4 October within the framework of the Malta ministerial conference. Marc Guigon, UIC Passenger Director and Head of the UIC Covid-19 Taskforce, presented “The future ‘normality’ of rail transport after the pandemic”, focusing on the work carried out by the taskforce to build RAILsilience together and account for changes in mobility behaviour and their consequences.