Communication from the Commission. Ports: an engine for growth

The Union is highly dependent on seaports for trade with the rest of the world and within its Internal Market. 74% of goods imported and exported and 37% of exchanges within the Union transit through seaports. Ports guarantee territorial continuity of the Union by servicing regional and local maritime traffic to link peripheral and island areas. They are the nodes from where the multimodal logistic flows of the trans-European network can be organised, using short sea shipping, rail and inland waterways links to minimise road congestion and energy consumption.

The 2011 White Paper on Transport and the Single Market Act II emphasise the need for well-connected port infrastructure, efficient and reliable port services and transparent port funding. The availability of adequate port infrastructure, good performance of port services and a level playing field are vital if the Union is to remain competitive in the global markets, improve its growth potential and create a more sustainable and inclusive EU transport system to underpin the internal market.

When faced with the challenge of a fully integrated transport network, the Union's port system is confronted by structural performance gaps. Investments are needed to adapt port infrastructure and facilities to suit new transport and logistics requirements and absorb the expected growth of cargo for the next decade during a time of scarce public funding. If nothing is done an opportunity will be missed to increase options available to transport operators and shippers and create growth and jobs in coastal areas and across the Union as a whole.

This Communication reviews the European Port Policy and builds on the progress achieved. It accompanies and supplements a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework on market access to port services and financial transparency of ports. It identifies eight additional set of EU actions needed to further unlock the potential of ports. This revised European Port Policy covers the trans-European transport network seaports, which account for 96% of freight and 93% of passengers transiting through ports in the Union.

See also:
- Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework on market access to port services and financial transparency of ports

ESO: Background information: Commission proposes upgrade for 300 key seaports http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-proposes-upgrade-for-300-key-seaports/

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