Belgium added to EC stevedoring watchlist

Following a decision earlier this year taken by the Court of Justice forcing Spain to implement changes to its existing stevedoring model, Belgium has now also been told to adapt its legislation to reflect the wishes of the Commission in this area. Domestic authorities in Brussels have just one month to come up with a plan, some 18 months since they were first sent a letter by the Commission demanding compliance.

Should they fail to comply by October 23, Belgium will also be taken to the Court of Justice.

Under the microscope is the pool system that allows only certain workers to perform tasks at the ports of Zeebrugge, Ostende, Ghent and Antwerp. Any change to this is opposed by port unions, which are minded to put forward a legal defence of the existing model.

In the meantime, José Llorca, president of Spain’s National Ports Authority, has travelled to Brussels to keep the Commission abreast of developments in respect of changes to Spanish stevedoring practices. In doing so, he has succeeded in extending the deadline for these to be implemented. The Commission had already noted that the process was “very delicate” and was therefore minded to grant more time.