New EU ports policy takes broader perspective

The European Commission presented today its new communication on ports policy. Objective is to promote a performing EU port system able to cope with the future challenges of EU transport needs. The communication provides guidance on the interpretation of Treaty rules and announces a number of forthcoming measures and soft law instruments. Hardly any legislative proposals are proposed.
The publication is the result of an extensive stakeholder consultation which Transport Commissioner Jacques Barrot initiated after the second failure of the port services’ Directive. This process was started and concluded respectively at the 2006 and 2007 ESPO conferences, held in Stockholm and Algeciras.
Six fields of action are introduced, these include port performance and hinterland connections, expanding capacity while respecting the environment, modernisation, a level playing field with clarity for investors, operators and users, structured dialogue between ports and cities and work in ports.
“The positive difference with previous attempts to formulate a European ports policy is that Commissioner Barrot has chosen a broader perspective which is based on stakeholder dialogue” said ESPO Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven in a first response, “Issues such as capacity expansion and city-port relations where never really addressed in the past although they are of critical importance to many ports in Europe. Equally positive is the soft law approach, as it matches better the diversity of our sector than hard legislation.”
The communication overall reflects the balanced picture that emerged from the stakeholder consultation. ESPO already welcomes the Commission’s intention to produce environmental guidelines on port development and State aid guidelines, which both meet with long-standing requests of the organisation.
What we have to study further is the communication’s interpretation of Treaty rules, notably with regard to concessions.” concluded Patrick Verhoeven, “Whilst we appreciate the Commission’s recognition of the pivotal role of port authorities in this respect, we need to carefully assess all implications before we can take a formal position.”
The Executive Committee of ESPO will analyse and discuss the new ports policy at its meeting of 24 October.


Source:Transportweekly