Spain faces yet another competition probe

“The purpose of the study is to identify if there are restrictions on competition … and to propose, if necessary, measures that mitigate the negative effect of the same,” said the CNMC.

It added that improvements to the configuration and regulation of the Spanish port system have been proposed for many years.

Significantly, it has urged anybody with information relating to the study to contact it. Furthermore, the study will commence just two months before the CNMC itself rules on the subrogation model adopted by the stevedoring sector as part of internal reform.

Ominously, as a preface to its most recent study, it noted that restrictive practice between certain port operators have been verified “in the past”. The study will also assess the effectiveness of the Spanish port system.