Why does it not cover cargo-handling and passenger services, nor port labour ?
The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) has welcomed the new Commission initiative on a new EU Port Policy but has questioned why it does not cover cargo-handling and passenger services, nor port labour.
Brussels adopted a proposal for a Regulation establishing a framework on market access to port services and financial transparency of ports. The legislative proposal is accompanied by a Communication entitled ‘Ports: an engine for growth’.
ECSA appreciates that the proposed text recognises that the freedom to provide services applies to port service providers and that rules to ensure fair competition are put forward. Applying the four Freedoms of the Treaty has been requested by European shipowners for a number of years.
Alfons Guinier, ECSA Secretary General, said: “ECSA is surprised to see that cargo-handling, port labour and passenger services are not covered by the proposed legislative text.
“This is particularly so since the recently published study done on behalf of the European Commission extensively documents that although port labour in many EU ports works very well, there do exist many restrictive practices in several ports.
“The reference to the establishment of a social dialogue is appreciated. However ECSA regrets that the Commission prefers to wait and see what the social partners will come up with in the social dialogue. A stock-taking exercise would only take place in 2016. Applying the principles of the freedoms of the Treaty is a key issue for port users and should not solely be dealt with in the Social Dialogue in which they are not involved.”
Ship owners welcome the fact that they, and other users, must be consulted on coordination of port services, hinterland connections, administrative simplification and other relevant issues, ECSA said in a statement.
Source: ECSA (European Community Shipowners’ Associations )
