EU's assumption of port power to prevent 'possible' price abuses
THE European Commission, the EU's cabinet, is advancing legal changes to port administration that would empower it to "prevent possible price abuses by operators ".
The European Commission's (EC) proposed regulatory package is supposedly to encourage operators to upgrade services and facilities and "increase their financial autonomy".
But European Sea Port Organisation (Espo) secretary general Patrick Verhoeve said: "We are concerned about the competencies that the regulation attributes to other authorities and the impact procedures may have on the commercial freedom of ports and their ability to invest."
EC vice president and transport commissioner Siim Kallas said 74 per cent of goods entering or leaving Europe go by sea, and 20 per cent of that cargo passes through Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp.
"This imbalance results in congestion and extra costs for shippers, transport operators and consumers," he said, reported Lloyd's Loading List.
"Public funds without unduly distorting competition will help. Ports will be able to reduce charges for vessels with better environmental performance," said the EC statement.
THE European Commission, the EU's cabinet, is advancing legal changes to port administration that would empower it to "prevent possible price abuses by operators ".
The European Commission's (EC) proposed regulatory package is supposedly to encourage operators to upgrade services and facilities and "increase their financial autonomy".
But European Sea Port Organisation (Espo) secretary general Patrick Verhoeve said: "We are concerned about the competencies that the regulation attributes to other authorities and the impact procedures may have on the commercial freedom of ports and their ability to invest."
EC vice president and transport commissioner Siim Kallas said 74 per cent of goods entering or leaving Europe go by sea, and 20 per cent of that cargo passes through Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp.
"This imbalance results in congestion and extra costs for shippers, transport operators and consumers," he said, reported Lloyd's Loading List.
"Public funds without unduly distorting competition will help. Ports will be able to reduce charges for vessels with better environmental performance," said the EC statement.