ESPO sets out priorities
The European Sea Ports Organisation, ESPO, recently issued its contribution to the European Commission’s Review on the Future of Transport. This consultation aims to set the basis for the preparation of a new Transport Policy White Paper which will be published in 2010 and which will set out policy priorities until 2020.
ESPO proposes the following priorities to be taken into consideration and translated into policy actions in the next White Paper:
• Strengthening the role of nodal access points, such as seaports and inland ports, and improvement and further development of hinterland connections between ports and land transport networks.
• More attention and resources for freight transport, with the possibility to create dedicated infrastructure networks.
• A better integration of transport and environmental policy objectives at the level of the EU.
• A better connection between the Common Transport policy and the Trans-European Transport Policy.
• Alignment of transport infrastructure needs and urban development requirements through enhanced planning procedures.
• Full implementation of the policy framework set out in the European Commission’s 2007 Ports Policy Communication.
• A rapid and harmonised implementation of the European Maritime Transport Space without Barriers, to turn short sea transport into a viable and competitive alternative to inland transport.
• Full rail market liberalisation.
• A level playing field, both between ports and between transport modes, as well as enforcement of applicable EU Treaty rules, international agreements and relevant secondary EU legislation (e.g. in the field of environment, customs, etc…).
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