26/09/2018 (Agence Europe) – In a press release on Monday 24 September, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomed the European Commission proposal to set up a European single maritime window environment (see EUROPE 12022). ESPO has made reduction of the "administrative burden" a major priority in the revision of directive 2010/65/EU. It is therefore seeking greater ambition in the harmonisation of the data definitions and data required. ESPO is also in favour of the member state having the possibility of requesting further information from ships when “exceptional circumstances" are involved. It also made a number of observations on several other points. It should be recalled that the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU has put a first draft compromise on the table with suggestions for mainly technical amendments (see EUROPE 12103). Link: https://bit.ly/2xRQ6Yl (LT)