NORTH EUROPE/EASTERN MED CONFERENCES TO MERGE

   Two conference agreements in the liner trade between northern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean are merging into a new umbrella conference, the Europe Mediterranean Trade Agreement.
    The proposed agreement, still to be finalized, will replace the Levant Liner Conferences and the Continent/Turkey/Continent Conference. It may also incorporate the United Kingdom/Salerno conference.
    The terms of the conference agreement will be sent to the European Commission to ensure that it complies with European competition regulations, said a spokesman for Ellerman, one of the members of the conferences.
    If approved by the EC, the new conference will include carriers of the Levant Liner Conferences and of the Continent/Turkey/Continent Conference as well as non-conference operators Maersk Line, CMA CGM and Contaz. Mediterranean Shipping Co. is also expected to join the conference.
    The merged conference would not cover the trade between northern Europe and Israel because of continuing political disagreements between Israel and Arab countries.