The European Commission pursues its plan of reviewing by 2013 the legislation applicable to port activities. The future set of measures should ensure that ports are in a position to face new challenges and opportunities right up until 2030.
Commission Work Programme Confirms New Ports Package
The European Commission recently presented its work programme for 2012, which also outlines initiatives planned for 2013 and 2014. The Commission’s new ‘Ports Package’ is mentioned in the 2013 action list. It is referred to as the development of a “framework for future EU ports’ policy, including legislative proposals”. The work programme explains that “this initiative will better enable ports to efficiently handle the increasing freight volumes to enable seamless logistics chains; review the restrictions on provisions for port services and enhance the transparency on ports’ financing, clarifying the destination of public funding to the different port activities with a view to avoid any distortion of competition; and establish a mutually recognisable framework on the training of port workers in different fields of port activities.”
Other initiatives relevant for ports include, in 2012, a legislative proposal to include maritime transport emissions in the EU’s Greenhouse Gas reduction commitment, a review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive, the development of a framework on maritime spatial planning, a new rail package and a review of critical infrastructure legislation. In 2013, an EU adaptation strategy for climate change is envisaged, as well as a review of air quality policies, a framework for E-freight and an internal road market package. Environment remains high on the agenda in 2014, with new targets on waste and landfill, an assessment and possible revision of the environmental liability Directive and the set up of a biodiversity strategy.
CMS DeBacker Mathilde Neumann European Union
December 27 2011
The transport white paper published in March 2011 highlighted the need to adopt a suitable regulatory framework in the port sector.
On 8 September, the European Commission Vice-President, Siim Kallas, announced the Commission's intention to bring forward the new package by 2013. The overall objective of the package will be to help ports to remain competitive and support their extensive growth potential.
According to the Vice-President, European ports will face increasing productivity challenges and investment needs, as well as issues surrounding employment and integration into cities. Therefore, the objective is to draft an appropriate legal framework that will enable them to enjoy continued economic prosperity.
In practice, three main objectives will be pursued:
First, the package will aim at ensuring that port services are provided in a competitive and open environment. The restrictions on the provision of port services will therefore be reviewed in the sense of adapting them to the new economic, social and industrial requirements.
The second objective will be an easing of the administrative burden on port activities. Therefore, initiatives such as the blue belt project will be strongly supported. To remind you, the blue belt project aims at enabling short sea shipping companies to operate freely within the internal market by applying simplified administrative procedures.
Last but not least, the third objective of the package is to improve the transparency of port financing in order to avoid distortion of competition and encourage private investors to participate in port projects.
Before submitting the proposal in 2013, the European Commission will first organize a conference on the future of European ports, launch a consultation among the stakeholders and carry out an in-depth assessment of the sector.
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