European Federation of Inland Ports is holding its Annual General Assembly in Mantova

From 15 till 17 October the members of EFIP are gathering in Mantova to join EFIP’s  General Assembly meeting. 
EFIP is representing nearly 200 inland ports in 18 countries from the European Union, Moldova, Switzerland and Ukraine. Created in 1994, EFIP is celebrating this year its 15th Anniversary. This 15th Anniversary will mean a new start for EFIP. In spring EFIP decided to set up a joined office with the European Sea ports Organisation. At the same time, EFIP’s secretariat was completely renewed. 

 
n Mantova, EFIP’s new Director will give a first overview of achievements and will present her working programme for the next year to the EFIP members.
Furthermore the general assembly will be asked to welcome the port of Ghent (Belgium) as a new EFIP member.

On 16 October, EFIP members will be visiting Mantova’s port area by boat. This port visit will be combined with a short conference where representatives of the European Parliament and the European Commission will inform EFIP and its members about current developments in EU transport policy of interest to inland ports. Belgian liberal MEP Dirk Sterckx will speak about the cooperation between sea ports and inland ports in the framework of the “maritime space without frontiers” concept. His intervention will be followed by an update on the implementation of the TEN-T priority projects and a preview of the  Danube Strategy by Cesare Bernabei, Policy Coordinator for inland waterway transport projects in the European Commission and right hand of European Coordinator, Karla Peijs. Finally, Roberto Ferravante, DG Transport, Deputy Head of Unit,  of the DG TREN Unit dealing with logistics, co-modality, inland waterways and  motorways of the sea & Marco Polo will zoom in on the European perspectives on transport and logistics.

Paolo Costa, former President of the Transport Committee of the European Parliament and Chairman of the Port of Venice, is the central guest of the dinner on 16 October. On 17 October a visit to the Port of Venice will conclude this two day meeting.

Source: Transportweekly