Brussels, 11/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament Committee on Transport began discussions on the proposal of directive on improved port services. The proposal for directive (see EUROPE of 15 February, p.7), which is aimed at opening port services up to competition, aroused fierce criticism mainly from the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO). The latter hopes that discussions within the European Parliament will result at the end of August in a series of amendments to complete the current draft directive.
ESPO supports the basic principles of this proposal on access to port services, but also expressed concern about the practical implementation of measures. ESPO fears that the current proposal could discourage investment in ports, mainly because the concession period foreseen by the Commission does not allow a real return to investment. ESPO also urges for the port authority to be able to refuse service providers that do not fit within the master plan of the port, and considers that the requirement of allowing a minimum of two separate service providers for each category of cargo could be an artificial way of introducing competition. ESPO stresses that the call for tenders procedures are not the only transparent and objective procedures for increasing the diversity of operators. Furthermore, the possibility given to service providers to employ their own staff may lead to a worsening in the quality of services.
The proposal of directive by Loyola de Palacio is highly criticised by the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) also. Trade unions share the Commission's opinion that the establishment of correct competition between the maritime ports of Member States is of capital importance. ETF, however, finds the draft directive disproportionate and invites the Commission to make an impact assessment. The trade unions recall that, if the liberalisation of the market entails increased supply in the beginning, it then results in a concentration and a consolidation of the capital. In the face of world operators, the other service providers are compelled to merge and the choice of users is reduced. The federation therefore supports a differentiated approach in relation to the size of the ports.
As far as the employment of the staff by the service providers themselves, ETF proposes the adoption of minimum standards for the training and qualification of dockers, common to all Member States.
The proposal of directive received a positive echo from the European Shipowners' Association, which is pleased to find in the proposal the "abolition of outmoded social practices by docker unions", a price transparency policy as well as free and loyal competition between and in the ports of the EU.