• Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • The UK Ports Industry
    • Port Skills and Safety
    • British Ports Association
    • Other Partner Organisations
  • Policies
    • Safety
    • Environment
    • Local communities
    • Developing skills
    • EU
    • Working with Devolved Administrations
    • Road and Rail Links to Ports
  • Ports
  • News
    • UKMPG News
    • Members News
  • Contact
  • Events
  • Members
    • Log In
    • Log Out

UK Major Ports Group

UK Major Ports

UKMPG and Lucy Anderson MEP host seminar on the future of European Ports Policy

October 16, 2015 by Lianne Stephens

UKMPG organised a Seminar in the European Parliament on 13 October 2015, titled "Encouraging Growth and Investment in European Ports".  The event was hosted by Lucy Anderson MEP and brought together key industry and institution stakeholders to discuss the future of European ports policy.  The seminar also explored the 'red lines' of various stakeholders in the negotiations over the Port Services Regulation proposal, which is currently going through first reading in the European Parliament.

James Cooper, Chief Executive of Associated British Ports and Deputy Chairman of UKMPG, concentrated on the central importance of private investment to the port sector, stating that "the European Union has an important role to play in enabling and supporting investment, both in the ports and in the hinterland.  What the ports sector needs is a stable business environment in which investors can have long term confidence.  However, we feel that the Port Services Regulation proposal, even with the compromises currently being discussed, will still jeopardise the conditions necessary for long-term investment and growth."  He went on to stress that this is not just an issue for the UK, but also for Europe as a whole.

The host of the seminar, Lucy Anderson MEP, stated "The Commission's 'one-size-fits-all' proposal for a new port services regulation failed to recognise the complexity and diversity of the EU's port sector.  Although UK Labour MEPs and the Socialists7W9A2322 and Democrats Group are working hard to mitigate the Commission's approach, this legislation remains a blunt instrument with very little added value.  I will continue to work with all like-minded colleagues in the Parliament to get a better deal for industry, workers and the environment, but ultimately I am not convinced that this regulation will help us achieve a European ports sector that is fit for the future."

Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) set out three red lines for European ports policy that are important to ESPO members, namely "the autonomy of ports in determining their own charging structures, transparency of public funding and the full implementation of the internal market in the maritime sector".

Rapporteur Knut Fleckenstein said that "[he had] listened to the all the views put forward by stakeholders, but that it was now up to the members of the European Parliament Transport Committee to see if they can reach a workable compromise on the Port Services Regulation proposal".  Mr Fleckenstein re-stated his assertion that "unless the European Commission finally committed to publishing a framework for state aid in the port sector", he would consider voting against his own report.

Other speakers contributing to the event included Lamia Kerdjoudj-Belkaid, Secretary General of the Federation of European Private Port Operators (FEPORT); Dimitrios Theologitis, head of the Ports and Inland Waterways Unit at DG MOVE; Bryan Watts, a UNITE trade union representative from the Bristol Port Company; and Sotiris Raptis, Shipping Officer at Transport & Environment.

Filed Under: News

Sign Up For Updates

Add your email address to be notified whenever we post news updates.

Events

December 2019
MTWTFSS
« Nov   Jan »
       1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31      

Recent News

UK Major Ports Group welcomes manifesto commitments on infrastructure but stresses the need for coastal focus

UK Major Ports Group welcomes manifesto commitments on infrastructure but stresses the need for coastal focus

November 28, 2019 By Lianne Stephens

Ports are taking real action to combat plastic waste

Ports are taking real action to combat plastic waste

September 13, 2019 By Lianne Stephens

Uncertain times make Strong Ports more vital than ever for the UK

Uncertain times make Strong Ports more vital than ever for the UK

September 10, 2019 By Lianne Stephens

Major Ports comment on £10m Government fund for Brexit preparation grants

Major Ports comment on £10m Government fund for Brexit preparation grants

August 30, 2019 By Lianne Stephens

About UK Major Ports Group

The United Kingdom Major Ports Group Ltd (UKMPG) was formed in 1993 and is the trade association representing most of the larger commercial ports in the United Kingdom. It has nine members who, between them, own and operate over 40 ports, accounting for more than 70% of the total tonnage handled in UK ports. … Continue Reading

Latest Tweets

  • 2020 calendar sorted! Delighted to be one of the supporters of this initiative to improve safety awareness on pilot… https://t.co/Mozfbfvk7i Yesterday at 4:03 pm
  • Thanks @Port_of_Tyne for having us along. A bold vision with real ambition embedded in progress commitments! https://t.co/HQMkzXqqKM December 5, 2019 6:04 pm
  • Moving goods by ship (and of course, via ports) is by far the best transport mode in terms of emissions intensity -… https://t.co/GuCZMma20s December 5, 2019 10:56 am
  • UK Major Ports Group welcomes manifesto commitments on infrastructure.... https://t.co/AacllhNmp6 December 4, 2019 4:30 pm
  • Follow us on Twitter

Contact Us

UK Major Ports Group
1st Floor
30 Park Street
London
SE1 9EQ

Tel. +44 (0) 20 7260 1785

Copyright © 2019 · UK Major Ports Group · Built by Blue Pie Media

This site uses cookies: Find out more.