As part of international dialogue between France and Russia in the field of transport, a number of events were organised in 2011, and on Friday 2 December a special conference – dedicated to transport and a vision towards an integrated East-West transport market – was held under the aegis of Co-Presidents Vladimir Yakunin, CEO of RZD, and Thierry Desmarest, Honorary Chairman of Total.

On this occasion a panel discussion on rail transport moderated by Vladimir Yakunin and Anne-Marie Idrac gave UIC Director-General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux the opportunity to present the results of the ICOMOD study coordinated by UIC, demonstrating the railways’ full potential to develop East-West rail links to meet increased freight flows. On the basis of this potential, significant work to improve both technical and administrative interoperability – already undertaken in part – has sparked the interest of the European Commission and is being carried out with UIC’s participation.