23/01/2017 (Agence Europe) – The member states adopted, without debate, the regulation on access to the port services market and the financial transparency of ports at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council on Monday 23 January. The text aims to make the funding and operation of port services more transparent. The new rules are designed to take account of the diversity of the sector across Europe. Despite being successful in having a number of amendments incorporated, the United Kingdom voted against the proposal because of provisions it deemed “unnecessary” and “largely ill-adapted” which could have a harmful effect on the competitiveness of UK ports. All the other member states supported the legislative text. The European Parliament approved the regulation on 14 December 2016 (see EUROPE 11690). (PH)