Questions on EU port policy

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Questions on EU port policy

• Patrick Verhoeven
• IAPH Africa-Europe Meeting
• Riga, 1-3 March 2006

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Summary

• A few words about ESPO
• Question 1 Do European port authorities share a
  common view on their role and responsibilities?
• Question 2 Do European port authorities need a
  common policy framework?
• Question 3 Is the present EU policy framework
  for ports satisfactory?
• The way forward
• The current agenda of ESPO

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A few words about ESPO

• Founded in 1993
• Represents European port authorities in all
  different forms and varieties
• Members from 19 EU countries, Croatia, Bulgaria,
  Iceland and Norway
• 800 ports handling 3,5 bln tonnes of cargo and
  350 mln passengers annually
• Recognised counterpart of EU institutions

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Question 1

• Do European port authorities share a common view
  on their role and responsibilities?
• YES
• but not quite

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• Port authorities share basic public functions
• Port authorities re-assess their more commercial
  role in view of common challenges
• Focus on competition within the supply chain
• Attractiveness of the port for logistics services
• Stimulate port development projects (mediator)
• Strategic partnerships with inland locations and
  hinterland transport modes
• Promote overall positive image of the port
• Institutional reform takes place in many EU ports
  more independence from (central / local)
  government
• Overall desire among port authorities to achieve
  greater management autonomy to respond
  effectively to market developments and play an
  active role in the supply chain
• But diversity remains (e.g. port authority
  providing port services)

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Question 2

• Do European port authorities need a common EU
  policy framework?
• YES
• but there are limits

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• A common EU policy framework is useful to
• Facilitate development of port capacity, maritime
  access and hinterland connections
• Foster provision of competitive and efficient
  services in ports and within the transport chain
• Stimulate the wider community responsibilities of
  ports
• But there are limits to what it can / should do
• Refrain from harmonising port management or
  limiting commercial and financial autonomy of
  port authorities

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Question 3

• Is the present EU policy framework for ports
  satisfactory?
• NO
• (not really)

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• The present EU policy framework suffers from a
  number of shortcomings
• Too interventionist
• Too fragmented
• Too negative
• Too little understanding of the sector
• Examples
• port services Directive
• contradiction EU transport and EU environmental
  policy

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The way forward

• Failure port services Directive opens
  opportunity for development of a coherent EU port
  policy
• Need for an overall debate on the priorities of
  such a policy before starting new proposals (ESPO
  conference Stockholm 1-2 June 2006)
• Beware of pitfalls
• Common management model for EU ports
• Centralised port planning

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The current agenda of ESPO

• Port and transport policy
• Future EU port policy
• Revision of Transport Policy White Paper
• Short Sea Shipping and Motorways of the Sea
• New areas rail, customs and logistics
• Ship-shore interface
• Implementation Port Security Directive
• Proposed Supply Chain Security Regulation
• Third Maritime Safety Package (places of refuge)
• Revision Port Reception Facilities Directive
• Ship emissions (air quality)
• Ports and the environment
• Maritime Policy Green Paper (marine spatial
  planning)
• Port development and Natura 2000 (Birds and
  Habitats)
• Dredging and the Water Framework Directive
• Thematic Strategies Water and Air

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Patrick Verhoeven - Secretary General European
Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Treurenberg 6
B-1000 Brussel Tel. [phone] - Email
pverhoeven_at_espo.be