Information about these components assists measurement of their relative importance, and enables trends in distinct transport flows to be identified . The Toolbox also performs some basic validation tests with code formats and values that should help spend less time in the correction of data when it is integrated in the corresponding EU database. The main synergies proposed within this conference are those between transport and external trade statistics and between transport and environment statistics. In order to link the external trade data to traditional transport statistics and to provide adequate data for transport modelling, an improvement in quality and coverage is needed and an adequate dissemination policy should be defined, after comparing the methodologies of the Member States and those of the EU with other countries. The use of external trade statistics for an evaluation of intermodal transport was also discussed.
Transportation accounts for a relevant part of environmental concerns.
Factors contributing to increase the concern for the pollution of the air were reported. Transport is a major energy consumer, a greedy consumer of natural and agricultural land and the main responsible for the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse effect gases. Moreover, the significant volume of oil and liquid chemicals transported by tankers across the Mediterranean pose a continuous threat to the pollution of the sea. The concluding session was devoted to the MED partners. Although the amount of time available to each country was limited, these brief presentations allowed for a clear picture of the state of the project objectives in each country,, the specific national needs and the actions defined for future work.