European shipowners published their priorities when it comes to Brexit negotiations outcome, stating that the current operating climate should be preserved as much as possible even after the Brexit, under the fundamental acquis of the EU: Free movement of goods and persons.
Firstly, an overall concern of EU shipowners relates to their competitiveness, among others in the fiscal area. With a possible new, attractive shipping centre just across the Channel, there is ever more reason to look at the EU’s shipping policy and ensure the EU remains a competitive location for shipping companies to do business.
“European shipowners strongly believe that to the extent possible, EU and UK should aim for conformity in legislation relating to maritime affairs”, said ECSA Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven, “It should really be recognised as a guiding objective for the Brexit negotiations”, he added.
ECSA presented the short-term priorities that should be given attention throughout the process:
- frictionless traffic by sea between the UK and the EU,
- free movement of seafarers, onshore staff and passengers and
- continued market access to the domestic trades and the offshore sector.
Around half of UK exports and imports are to and from the EU and most of it is done through ships. Since the removal of customs and health controls at the start of 1993 at UK and EU ports, traffic volumes across, both over and under, the Dover Strait rose from 1 million lorries in 1992 to 4 million in 2015 (a 300% increase). Returning to the situation previous to the Customs Union and imposing extensive border procedures would cause heavy congestion in these ports, that have simply no free space for lorries or trailers to be held pending clearance.
Another key priority for EU shipowners is the free movement of their seafarers and their company staff. Seafarers of third countries employed on EU or UK vessels should be granted easy access to the UK. EU or UK citizens that wish to travel by sea should be allowed to continue to do so in a smooth way, without adding any heavy procedures such as visa applications.
Concerning the market access, Verhoeven said that the UK’s domestic and offshore market, as well as EU markets, are open. and this reciprocal market access should be preserved.
Explore more by reading ECSA’s official paper:
