The European commissioner for Transport, Siim Kallas, presented a new proposal to change the Commission's legislation with the goal of reducing logistics costs for the EU by up to 10,000 million Euro until 2030, as well as reducing port charges by almost 7%.
The proposed regulation includes new procedures, open and transparent, to select the port service operators. It also suggests the creation of rules to avoid abusive fixed prices by operators with exclusive rights. "Thanks to an open and competitive environment for the port services and with greater competitive pressure in those ports where it is more necessary, port operators will be encouraged to provide better and more reliable services," assures the EC.
The proposal establishes the freedom to provide services, without discrimination, as a general rule, and aligns the port sector with other means of transport and with the domestic market's regulations.
To improve customer service, the proposal includes the creation of an Advisory Committee for port users.
Directive covering concessions
The proposal does not contain specific regulations for cargo handling or passenger services because, according to the Commission, "the relevant procedures will be established in a future Directive covering the award of concessions to the port sector."
The proposal focuses on the main 319 European ports, which together can create a true network able to sustain the European domestic market. Of those 319 ports, 38 are in Spain.
The Commission believes that this initiative will generate a 4 to 8% increase in short sea shipping traffic.
The proposal also grants ports with more freedom in the collection of port charges and stresses the need for public funding transparency. Additionally, according to the EC, port authorities become more independent, particularly in the setting of fees and resource allocation.
With this greater autonomy in the setting and collection of fees for the use of their infrastructures, the port authorities should be better able to ensure the good functioning of the ports.
This managerial autonomy will be accompanied by supervision from an independent authority, which will ensure fair competition and port coordination at both domestic and European levels.
The proposal also stresses the need for transparency when public funding is used.
The new regulations will clearly show where public money is going and should contribute to avoid distortions of competition. A set of more specific transparency regulations will allow for a better control on certain current practices and should attract private investment.
Source: Diariodelpuerto.com
The Commission believes that this initiative will generate a 4 to 8% increase in short sea shipping traffic.
The proposal also grants ports with more freedom in the collection of port charges and stresses the need for public funding transparency. Additionally, according to the EC, port authorities become more independent, particularly in the setting of fees and resource allocation.
With this greater autonomy in the setting and collection of fees for the use of their infrastructures, the port authorities should be better able to ensure the good functioning of the ports.
This managerial autonomy will be accompanied by supervision from an independent authority, which will ensure fair competition and port coordination at both domestic and European levels.
The proposal also stresses the need for transparency when public funding is used.
The new regulations will clearly show where public money is going and should contribute to avoid distortions of competition. A set of more specific transparency regulations will allow for a better control on certain current practices and should attract private investment.
Source: Diariodelpuerto.com
