Following the first Ministerial Conference held in Bucharest, Romania (3-4 February 2010), SEETAC’s (South East European Transport Axis Cooperation) Second Ministerial Conference took place in Tirana, on 16 November 2010.
Organised by the Albanian Ministry of Public Works and Transport in cooperation with the Central European Initiative, the gathering involved most of the Ministries of Transport and Infrastructure taking part in the South East Europe Transnational Cooperation Programme. Financial institutions such as the World Bank (WB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Commission (DG Move) and the Joint Technical Secretariat of the above-mentioned South East Europe Programme were also present. The Conference aimed at briefing on the state of play between the EU and other financial institutions in the region with regard to their commitment towards the transport projects and their relation to the activities envisaged by SEETAC project countries - especially in the light of the EU enlargement policy, EU Transport policy for the South East Europe and the current debate on the TEN- T revision. In his opening speech, Albanian Minister of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Sokol Olldashi, presented the latest developments in his country and emphasized the “need for new international connections, modernisation and rehabilitation of the existing links”. CEI Secretary General, Amb. Gerhard Pfanzelter, addressed the audience by highlighting the role of the CEI in bringing the non-EU countries closer to the European Union. In this case, SEETAC fully represents this endeavour between the Western Balkans and the EU transport systems in order to generate transport continuity and infrastructure development in Europe and beyond. Mr. Francois Bégeot from the DG Move confirmed the importance of accessibility as the main vector for economic growth and development. He also remarked that “SEETAC is strongly supported by the EU Commission (DG Enlargement, DG Mobility and Transport) as its results could contribute to the revision process of the TEN – T (Trans European Network for Transport)”. SEETAC’s third Ministerial Conference will take place next year in November, in Athens, Greece.