Brussels, 22/01/2014 (Agence Europe) - A significant section of the port sector is siding with the Commission with regard to its draft regulation on access to the port services market and on the financial transparency of the ports. With the European Parliament's transport committee preparing to vote on this issue in February, several industrial and logistics interest groups have underlined their concerns about the many amendments that have already been submitted. On Monday 21 January, the secretaries general of the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA), the European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT), the European Shippers' Council (ESC) and the European Community Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (ECASBA) sent a joint letter to MEPs. In it, they deplore the fact that many of the amendments could water down the Commission's initial proposal and they are particularly opposed to amendments could lead to the section on market access becoming totally vacuous. Although passenger and handling services have already been excluded from the draft regulation, these organisations are afraid that technical-nautical services, such as pilotage could also disappear. They also criticise the overly prescriptive amendments on prices. The sector is not opposed to transparency but does want to retain a certain level of flexibility to allow for effective trade negotiations. These different associations would also like the independence of the supervisory authority from the managing authority to be guaranteed. (MD/transl.fl)