The technical study for the achievement of the Maghreb high speed railway line was the focus of a working session held in Tunis on 29 February 2012. The meeting was attended by Tunisia’s Transport Minister Abdelkarim Harouni along with representatives of the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Transport Ministers Group of the Western Mediterranean (GTMO 5+5).

The 800-kilometre high speed line on the Tunisian territory is to link the Algerian borders in the north and the Libyan borders in the south.

Taking the floor, Abdelkarim Harouni pointed out that the transparency conditions prevailing in Tunisia constitute a guarantee for the achievement of joint projects. He also spoke of the difficulties confronting the transport sector in Tunisia as a result of bad management before the Revolution. The minister underlined the need to urgently proceed with in-depth reforms in the sector, including in particular restructuring companies, improving their profitability and upgrading infrastructure. The European delegation voiced readiness to offer the necessary assistance in logistic means and in know-how for the achievement of the high speed line.

(Source : TAP)