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Port governance at the heart of ESPO's agenda

Nov 23, 2007 Port


Members of ESPO met today in Brussels for the Annual General Meeting of the organisation. On the agenda featured the adoption of ESPO's work programme for 2008 and a discussion with DG TREN officials on the new ports policy. One of the priorities ESPO has set itself for next year is port governance.

Speaking at the Annual ESPO Luncheon which followed the internal part of the meeting, ESPO Chairman Giuliano Gallanti called upon port authorities to be more extravert:The challenges of the ever-changing logistics environment and society in general require our members – whatever their form or ownership – to stop being passive and bureaucratic spectators. Instead, they must be dynamic coordinators of the port and port-related community and act as facilitators in the chain. This is true in our relation to customers, terminal operators, logistic actors and other service providers. But it is equally true in our relation to local and regional government, social partners and stakeholders of all kind.

A port authority needs to be sufficiently strong and autonomous in order to match commercial goals with the legitimate public interest of the port and its wider environment, added Mr. Gallanti who expressed ESPO’s satisfaction with the European Commission’s new ports policy as it confirms this position and clarifies the tools port authorities have at their disposal. It is now up to us to use them in an optimal and responsible manner,concluded the ESPO Chairman who announced that ESPO decided to set up a specific port governance committee within its structure to improve know-how and expertise on these matters. One of its first tasks will be a study on the use of concessions as governance instruments. The results of this exercise will be presented at the ESPO 2008 Conference which will be held in Hamburg on 29 and 30 May next year.

Keynote speaker at the luncheon was Fotis Karamitsos, Director of Logistics, Innovation, Co-modality and Maritime Transport at the European Commission (photo). Mr. Karamitsos presented the main elements of the Commission's ports policy which is just about one month old. ESPO has been a key to the success of the prior consultation and, hence, to the new policy,said Mr. Karamitsos who reassured the approximately 200 participants present at the luncheon that the way forward is that of the light touch of a golf player. We believe in market forces with public authorities supporting, promoting and mending, i.e. eradicating abuse. The communication provides a clear framework and an action plan so that Europe’s ports can face the challenges of today and tomorrow, attract new investment and fully contribute to co-modal development.

The General Assembly of ESPO also approved today an agreement with the EcoPorts Foundation which will lead to a joint secretariat as from January next year. EcoPorts was founded in 2002 by a group of European port authorities, universities and experts to share environmental experience. The co-operation agreement will complement ESPO's policy work in the field of the environment and sustainable development with sound practical expertise.


Source:Transportweekly

 
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