Brussels, 24/05/2005 (Agence Europe) - A workshop debate on the draft directive on port service market access took place on 20 May at Antwerp University, on the initiative of the European Sea Ports Organisation (EPSO) and the European Institute for Maritime and Transport Law. The draft directive presented in October 2004 by the Commission has not gained the unanimous support of the sector. EPSO president Giuliano Gallanti, EPSO president stated, “I think we agree on the fact that the proposals should be substantially amended”. In a reference to the failure of the first proposal at the European Parliament in November 2003 (EUROPE 8806), Mr Gallanti declared, “today's workshop marks the beginning of a joint effort to ensure that the second attempt has a legal framework on market access for port services and leads to a constructive solution”. He called on those in positions of authority in sea ports to say clearly what they want or do not want.
On 28 April in La Vallette, the ESPO General Assembly adopted a document defining its position on the priorities for European maritime port policy. It focuses on supporting the objective of free and non-discriminatory access for port services and is seeking a Community legislative framework that clarifies application of EU treaty rules and provides more legal security to port managers, current and potential service providers, as well as port customers. However, the ESPO considers that the Commission proposal, in its current form, is “counterproductive on a number of points”, notably because it introduces more bureaucracy and additional barriers to market access. The ESPO document proposes alternative solutions to the factors criticised in the Commission text (site: http://www.espobe/policy/index.asp ).