Study carried out by PWC and Panteia

The European Commission has published a study aimed at supporting an impact assessment on “Measures to enhance the efficiency and quality of port services in the EU”. The report, carried out by PWC and Panteia, is the first comprehensive study on port labour in Europe. It deals with the organisation of the labour market, training and qualifications, and health and safety. The report outlines international, European and national regulations and contains a wealth of statistical data, historical backgrounds and assessments by parties directly involved.

Ports play a key role in the EU economy and development, as nearly 75% of the trade between the EU and therest of the world is handled in ports. Thus, the importance of ensuring efficiency in ports is related to the abilityof the EU to be competitive at international level. However, European ports seem to lack the ability to adaptefficiently in order to meet the ever-changing and developing needs of industry. This is particularly the casewhere levels of public finance are no longer forthcoming – the economic crisis has reduced the capacity ofgovernments to finance long term infrastructure. It should also be considered that the heterogeneous nature ofthe port sector increases the complexity of guaranteeing consistent development of the sector as a whole. For more information

In order to guarantee the sustainable development of the sector, private investments represent a core element;nevertheless, to attract them, more convenient conditions have to be created. In particular, it is necessary toguarantee a level playing field, and competition (many services are still provided in monopoly), as well as tofoster transparency and non-discriminatory practices.

Finally, port authorities are often limited in their abilityto determine the level of dues, thus to impact on their resources and determine their operating income.At the present time, according to stakeholder opinion, issues concerning the port service sector seem to bemainly focused on price, while quality is generally not such a relevant issue. Users are generally least satisfiedwith pilotage, cargo handling and passenger services. Shipping companies tend to be more severe in theirevaluation of services than other stakeholders.

It is expected that port traffic will increase. Nevertheless, inefficiency would prevent industry players frominternalizing the whole value added derived from increased demand.With regard to intervention, this study considers a set of approaches, ranging from soft measures, such asguidelines through to well-structured measures, some of which might be regarded as imposing practices with aview to fostering competition. From an economic perspective (e.g. meeting future demand, cost and quality,development and impact on SMEs), a moderate approach is regarded as insufficient, as local interests wouldprevail over the overall need to improve the industry.

Similarly, forced competition would be inefficient, due toincreased high costs and benefits counter balanced in case of local specificities that would not be considered.None of the considered policy options have a relevant social impact, as the increase in terms of jobs is anindirect and limited effect.

The environmental concern, apart from being assessed on the basis of the presenceof measures specifically aiming at reducing pollution, depends on modal shift. In this case, it is related to theeconomic factor, as the more the maritime sector becomes attractive to transport goods, the more it is expectedto be preferred to other means. However, modal shift is in no case very relevant.

For more information, please read the relevant study by clicking here

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