UIC was pleased to accept the invitation from the Centre for Transportation Studies for the Western Mediterranean (CETMO) to participate in the 11th Ministerial Conference of the Group of Transport Ministers of the Western Mediterranean (GTMO 5+5), held in Rabat, Morocco on 23-24 June 2026.

The GTMO 5+5 format convenes transport ministers from France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia, as well as observer entities, including UIC, to foster cooperation and discussion on transport in the western Mediterranean.

During the two days of meetings, in-depth conversations were held about challenges and opportunities for the transport systems across the ten countries, and how cooperation grounded in best-practice sharing within the GTMO format can help advance the region’s transport systems.

Representing the railway sector, UIC reminded ministers and fellow observer organisations of the vast potential of carbon credit revenues for railways as an additional funding stream, the need for adaptation planning through adopting concrete resilience measures, as well as standardisation being the driving force for harmonising networks within and across borders while decreasing costs.

UIC also took the opportunity to meet representatives from UIC member Moroccan National Railways (ONCF) and participate in a bilateral meeting between UIC Director-General Francois Davenne and Minister of Transport and Logistics H.E. Abdessamad Kayouh.

Beyond its current contribution to CETMO’s work on climate change resilience, UIC also stands ready to support the GTMO 5+5 format in light of its newly adopted ministerial declaration.

Stay tuned and sign up for the upcoming UIC x ONCF event on Investment and Financing Solutions for Africa’s Railway Future, to be held on 14-15 October 2026 in Rabat, Morocco.