EU ports regulation woes


Major European port players met in Brussels this week to discuss the European Union’s plans to review EU ports policy at a specially convened mini-hearing.
The new port services provision has been previously touted in a number of different forms and in its current guise has caused much unease among EU ports since it was announced in May by Siim Kallas, European Commissioner for mobility and transport.
The EU’s view is that unlike other transport sectors, there is almost no EU ports legislation on access to services, financial transparency or charging for infrastructure use.
Therefore it wants to review EU ports policy focusing on the ports of the trans-European Transport Network, which accounts for 96% of goods and 95% of passengers transiting through the EU ports system. It also wants to improve public port financing to avoid distortions of competition and make clear where public money is going.

Negative feedback
But the general consensus at the mini-hearing this week was the same as when the news was first announced, decidedly negative and if anything, even more uneasy.
Richard Bird, executive director at the UK Major Ports Group, was at the forefront of complaints made at the hearing.
“It’s a pity we didn’t have more of a consultation when the reform was announced,” he said.
Mr Bird pointed out that the UK’s 44 Ten-T ports stand to be greatly affected by further regulation, being 'trust ports' receiving no government subsidy.
“We are concerned the reform will interfere where the market is working well causing added bureaucracy, extra cost and conflictions with existing labour arrangements,” he added.
The worry is that ports will no longer be able to operate as commercial businesses and emphasised ESPO’s view that European ports are willing to respect the Treaty principles but do not believe a regulatory 'straightjacket', that does not fully consider the specificity of each port, will provide the means necessary.
Mr Bird went so far as to say his organisation wants the new regulations withdrawn to assess impact on ports before starting over from scratch with the reform.

Victor Schoenmakers, director of European and International affairs, Port of Rotterdam, echoed the view that further regulating the industry needs to be done carefully because it’s already running well.
He added: “We don’t want a more prescriptive system in The Netherlands, the consultation and competition laws here are already adequate enough.”
What next
Now that ports have had a chance to air their opinions on the issue, it will be interesting to see what comes out in the wash in the European Parliament over the coming weeks.
The Rapporteur's draft report will be presented on 26 November in the TRAN Committee followed by an exchange of views with the Shadow Rapporteurs and other Members.
Then the amendment phase which runs up until 3 December will allow Members to make their own modifications to the Commission's proposal. After that deadline, the Rapporteur will try to reach some compromise amendments between the various political groups.
The vote will take place in February 2014 in the TRAN Committee, after which the file will go to Plenary in March 2014. This will mean the European Parliament will have its position on the issue before the end of the legislature.






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