Strasbourg, 04/05/2015 (Agence Europe) - Nine European maritime organisations, including the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) and the European Community of Ship Brokers and Agents (ECASBA) published an open letter for the attention on European decision makers on Thursday 30 April 2015. In this publication, The Athens Declaration - A Year On, the organisations call for concrete action to ensure respect for the commitments in the declaration: (Exploiting the full potential of short sea shipping and sea transportation services for businesses and citizens in Europe). It should be pointed out that this declaration, adopted by European transport ministers at the end of the Informal Council in May 2014, sets out the priorities for developing maritime transport (see EUROPE 11074).
The declaration signatories underline the lack of investment, as well as the “regulatory and administrative burdens” confronting them, which they consider higher than those facing their road and rail competitors. They are also complaining about the lack of uniform standards and harmonization, as well as the absence of interoperability between national systems. In conclusion, they demand that they are regularly consulted by the European authorities, particularly with regard to the policies involving transport digitalisation. (Jean Comte)