On 21st January 2014, four of Europe’s main port user groups – ECSA, representing shipowners, CLECAT, freight forwarders,  ESC, shippers and ECASBA, ship agents and brokers – issued a joint letter calling on the European Parliament’s Transport Committee (TRAN) to ensure that the measures included in the European Commission’s fourth port package are not diluted by amendments to such an extent that the proposal is effectively neutered.

The four organisations said that the measures originally proposed were realistic, appropriate and addressed the main issues facing the European port industry. Furthermore, they said that by being rather less ambitious than its predecessors, this fourth attempt by the Commission to liberalise and open up the provision of services in ports stood a much better chance of being introduced. Doing so would bring about the changes urgently needed to ensure the European port industry was open, efficient and better able to support Europe’s economic development.

Since its publication, however, the provisions in the proposal have been subject to significant pressure from port and service provider groups who have both tabled a large number of amendments to the proposal in Parliament and also lobbied Member State governments.

The joint letter, however, calls on the TRAN Committee to resist pressure to water down the proposals.

A copy of the joint letter can be down loaded here: JOINT PORT USER GROUP LETTER TO TRAN – JAN 2014