Morocco to assume presidency of Western Mediterranean Transport Ministers' Group in 2026

Morocco is set to take over the presidency of the Western Mediterranean Transport Ministers' Group GTMO 5+5 from Malta. This transfer will occur during the 11th Ministerial Conference of the Group, which Morocco will host in Rabat on June 23 and 24, 2026. Established in 1995, the GTMO 5+5 promotes dialogue and cooperation in transport, strengthening the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. It includes ten member countries: Spain, France, Italy, Malta, and Portugal from the northern shore, and Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya from the southern shore. The Group also involves international organizations such as the Arab Maghreb Union UMA, the European Commission, the Union for the Mediterranean UpM, the International Transport Forum FIT, the Islamic Development Bank IDB, the European Investment Bank EIB, the International Union of Railways UIC, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe UNECE. Morocco's National Company for the Study of the Strait of Gibraltar SNED and Spain's Company for Studies for a Fixed Link across the Strait of Gibraltar SECEGSA also participate. The Group's technical secretariat is provided by the Centre for Transport Studies for the Western Mediterranean CETMO. The GTMO 5+5 operates through biennial ministerial conferences with a rotating presidency between countries from both shores. These conferences monitor initiatives, examine cooperation prospects, and facilitate the presidency transfer. Each conference is preceded by an expert