Brussels, 24/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - The caution shown by the European Commission towards dockers in the new “port package”, which does not include cargo handling in the liberalisation of port services (see EUROPE 10851), has provoked several reactions. The lesson drawn by the European Commission, further to the failure of two earlier packages in this respect, is appreciated in different ways by different stakeholders.
Social dialogue. The European Commission has deliberately chosen not to include the social chapter in its legislative proposals on improving the way ports function, including via transparent access to the port services market (piloting, towage, refuelling, mooring, dredging, waste management). The liberalisation of services had already been envisaged in two earlier packages in 2004 and 2011 but each time this had failed due to labour contention in the sector. The Commission tried to liberalise in the past but trade union consultation, the transport spokesman for the Socialists at the European Parliament, Saïd El Khadraoui (S&D, Belgium), said, but this time “the Commission seems to have learnt its lesson”, he was pleased to state. The proposals provide for social dialogue between employees and employers, via a committee set up last month, followed by an assessment of progress in 2016. Only then will the Commission be able to envisage legislative proposals if necessary. “The Commission is finally making room for European social dialogue”, the MEP was pleased to state.
Liberalisation is not dismissed. The European transport workers federation (ETF) was relieved that handling was excluded from the liberalisation under discussion - albeit temporarily. With 2016 in the crosshairs, Philippe Alfonso, the association's policy secretary for maritime affairs, said “it is clear that liberalisation of port labour is still on the Commission's agenda”. Nonetheless, he said: “European dockers remain vigilant and are ready to fight back any attempt to deregulate their professions”.
Ports and shipowners undecided. It comes as no surprise that shipowners would have preferred immediate action instead of stock-taking in 2016. “Appreciating” social dialogue initially, the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) regrets that the “Commission prefers to wait and see what the social partners will come up with in the social dialogue. A stock-taking exercise would only take place in 2016. Applying the principles of the freedoms of the Treaty is a key issue for port users and should not solely be dealt with in the Social Dialogue in which they are not involved”, stated Alfons Guinier, ECSA Secretary General. The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) also considers that all port services without exception should have been taken into account in the Commission's proposal, which should not have been of a legislative nature.
Safety of other services. When it comes to the opening of the market for other services, Alfonso, of the ETD, raises other questions in respect to safety. He said: “Any attempt to deregulate technical-nautical services should be strictly defined and controlled to avoid marine casualties that would pose a threat to the marine environment and put human lives at risk”. He insisted that situations should be avoided “where safety at sea would be sacrificed to competition and profit with a view to serving specific interests rather than the broader public interest”.
Autonomy. On the tariff transparency records, conferring more autonomy to port authorities, the secretary general of EPSO, Patrick Verhoeven, expressed reservations about the powers that will be attributed to other authorities, especially for surveillance of port tariffs and subsidies. (MD/transl.jl)