EUROPE

Spain port authorities protest ‘accessibility fund’ plan

12 years ago

There has been a mixed reaction to a proposal put forward by Spains National Ports Authority towards the creation of a new “Accessibility Fund”, which would entail port authorities having to surrender 50% of their annual profits each year.

Nod: Valencia has come out in favour of the fund. Credit: Renaud Jaguenet

The fund would provide the finance needed to improve terrestrial access to all 28 ports managed by Puertos del Estado.

The president of the Port of Barcelona, Sixte Cambra, rejected the proposal, pointing out that it would seriously undermine the financial autonomy of ports and damage their future ability to invest.

Manuel Morón, president of Algeciras Bay Port Authority, was also less than welcoming to the proposal, stating that the port might end up financing infrastructure improvements at competing ports, while having little access to central funding for its own infrastructure needs.

In contrast, Rafael Aznar, chairman of the Port of Valencia, has come out in favour of the creation of such a fund, which he believes will help strengthen Spain’s competitiveness in foreign trade “according to criteria clearly expressed by Europe to improve connectivity, efficiency and sustainability”.

Algeciras, Barcelona, Cartagena, Valencia and Las Palmas currently generate 70% of total profits in the Spanish ports network.