Tag: ESPO

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) together with the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) published a joint paper calling for the strengthening of port-rail connectivity with regards to the European Union’s transport policy. In fact, the paper entitled “Ports in the European Rail System” suggests the implementation of the current EU legislative rail framework should take into account that rail management is not a core task for port authorities, as they have to deal with a complex web of transport, logistics, industry, energy, blue growth and community interests.

ESPO congratulates Port of Barcelona, Port of Vigo and Port of Baku for achieving EcoPorts’ environmental management standard (PERS). Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s Secretary General, handed over the PERS certificates to the ports’ representatives during the Green Port Congress in Oslo.

ESPO presented its annual Environmental Report for 2019, including more than 60 different environmental performance benchmarks containing figures on the green services to shipping, as well as the Top 10 Environmental Priorities of the European ports. 94 ports participated in this year’s report.

Ahead of the European Parliament’s hearings of the commissioners-designate, a coalition of more than 40 European associations and organisations reiterated their call for a strong transport budget. The budget will be decided by the upcoming negotiations of the Multiannual Financial Framework. 

ESPO submitted its proposals regarding the European Commission's review of the TEN-T Regulation 1315/2013 which kick started before summer. ESPO believes the new TEN-T guidelines should be adapted to recognise the role many seaports are playing in the field of energy and digitalization over their classical role.

The Port of Dover is Europe's busiest international roll-on roll-off ferry port, handling up to €136 billion of trade or 17% of the UK's trade in goods. Many were the reports according to which the port could be severely affected in light of Brexit. 

Innovation at terminals is a reality with container terminal operators evolving in a highly competitive environment and deploying tremendous efforts to adapt their terminals to the ever-growing size of vessels and its cascading effects, according to a new study by ETF, IDC, FEPORT and ESPO.

Sotiris Raptis presents the ten key priorities of European ports toward a more sustainable management, according to the latest environmental report published annually by ESPO. One of the findings that is worth noticing is that air quality, which was not an issue back in 1996, it is now in the agenda remaining a first priority since 2013.

The European Sea Ports Organisation published a report focusing on the need for coherence and coordination between transport policy and other policies at EU level (Environment, Customs, Competition, Energy, Maritime Affairs, Research), whereas it also highlights the importance of the European ports and the benefits they provide for the European countries. 

ESPO congratulated the Port of Ceuta (Spain), Shannon Foynes Port Company (Ireland) and Port of Melilla (Spain) for receiving EcoPorts' environmental management standard. Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s Secretary General, Eamonn O’Reilly, ESPO’s Chairman, and Sotiris Raptis, EcoPorts coordinator, handed over the PERS certificates to the ports' representatives during the annual ESPO Conference in Livorno.