European Sea and Inland Ports establish joint office

EFIP and ESPO will however stay separate legal entities with independent decision-making structures. The agreement is an extension of the Platform of European Sea and Inland Ports which both associations established two years ago to underline the increased cooperation between sea and inland ports in the European logistical and scape and to reinforce the voice of European port authorities in Brussels. “Both ESPO an EFIP will benefit from this joint secretariat”, said EFIP President Willy Robijns, “I firmly believe that a stronger co-operation will lead to a better understanding of their mutual needs and thus to an increased effectiveness of both sea and inland ports”. ESPO Chairman Victor Schoenmakers added: “We very much look forward to taking the co-operation between our organisations one step further. I am convinced that it will strengthen the lobby power of port authorities in Brussels and will lead to a fruitful exchange of know-how between our members.” Following the agreement, Isabelle Ryckbost was appointed Director of EFIP. Mrs Ryckbost comes with almost 20 years of experience in EU public affairs, the last 10 years working as political assistant of MEP Dirk Sterckx where she was mainly active in transport and port-related fields, such as the maritime safety packages, the ports packages, railway liberalisation issues and inland navigation. Mrs Ryckbost started her work at the joint EFIPESPO office on 4 May 2009.