Transforming Urban Mobility in the Mediterranean region

5-6 June 2023, Barcelona, Spain – The Event “Transforming Urban Mobility in the Mediterranean region” is jointly organized by the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfMS) and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP), in the framework of the UITP Global Public Transport Summit.

The Regional Transport Action Plan (RTAP) for the Mediterranean region until 2027, endorsed at the 2^nd Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministerial Conference on Transport held on 9 February 2023, expressly makes Urban Mobility in the region one of its main priorities for the coming years. The new RTAP will foster the development of multimodal urban transport strategies based on integrated sustainable urban mobility planning and strong governance, by embracing digitalisation, and innovative and sustainable solutions to urban mobility challenges.

The joint UfMS-UITP event will showcase how the RTAP is setting a clear path towards transforming and upscaling sustainable urban transport and mobility in the region and discuss the way forward. For this, it will bring together representatives from national transport administrations, local authorities and the public transport industry, along with international and regional sectoral organizations on urban transport and mobility, international financial institutions and donors, NGOs and academia.

The event has been structured in two parts which will take place over two consecutive days in two different locations.

On Day 1, Tuesday, 5 June 2023, from 15.45 to 17.00, a joint UfM-UITP Panel session will be held within the framework of the UITP Global Public Transport Summit at the premises of the Barcelona Trade Fair Exhibition Center “Fira Barcelona Gran Via” (Address: Fira Barcelona Gran Via (North Entry). Gran Via, 15 Carrer del Foc 08908, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona (Spain).

This session will feature a presentation on the key RTAP measures for urban mobility, followed by a panel discussion, including Q&A with the audience, on how to realize the potential of sustainable transport and mobility in the Mediterranean region. The panel will include representatives from UfM countries, public transport operators and the UITP. The discussion will focus on planning for sustainable urban mobility at national and local levels, infrastructure financing, setting up governance structures including through public transport authorities, addressing capacity building needs, the promotion of electric mobility and the use ITS, among others. The main highlights of the UITP Global Public Transport Summit will also be presented.

This Panel session will be followed by a presentation ceremony on the UITP stand at the Summit’s Exhibition centre of the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding between the UfM Secretariat and UITP.

On Day 2, Wednesday, 6 June 2023, from 9.00 to 13.30, a closed Workshop on “RTAP measures on urban mobility and funding opportunities” will be held at the headquarters of the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean.

During the workshop, achievements, best practices and success stories, as well as future policy priorities of the UfM countries in light of the implementation of Action 18 on “Urban Mobility” in the new RTAP will be presented, followed by a round table discussion with international financial institutions (IFIs) and donors on funding opportunities for urban transport in the Mediterranean region. The meeting will end with the presentation of the main findings and conclusions as well as recommendations for the next steps and the follow-up towards the implementation of the RTAP and to further contribute to the improvement of urban mobility in the region.

Agenda