Brussels, 13/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The way European ports function is becoming increasingly modernised but there remain great differences between northern and southern Europe when it comes to development, according to the fifth report on port governance published recently by the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO). Analysing the characteristics of the port sector, the report states that: - in most ports, the operator function has made way to landlord and regulatory functions; - the vast majority of port authorities in Europe are publicly owned, with the exception of some of the larger UK ports and smaller, industrial ports on the continent (ESPO says that further privations are considered in the UK and Ireland); - despite heavy financial responsibilities regarding investment and personnel, most port authorities do not appear to be fully master of their income and lack financial autonomy; - variations between the governance of ports is determined by their regional location; - port authorities located in southern Europe enjoy limited financial and functional autonomy compared to those in northern Europe. This duality could become less pronounced over the longer term, ESPO concludes. The report may be consulted at: http: //http://www.espo.be/images/stories/Publications/studies_reports_surveys/espofactfindingreport2010.pdf . (A.By./transl.jl)