Grand Harbour, Marsaxlokk, Cirkewwa and Mgarr (Gozo) have been included in an EU list of 319 ‘key’ harbours which may be involved in a new European Union initiative to improve operations ad onward transport connections.
The commission said the guidelines and legal changes being proposed will help port operators upgrade their services and facilities as well as giving them more financial autonomy.
74% of the goods entering or leaving Europe do so by sea, but one fifth of that amount currently passes through just three ports: Rotterdam, Hamburg and Antwerp. This imbalance between port performance results in congestion and extra costs for shippers, transport operators and consumers. The new proposals could save the European economy up to €10 billion by 2030 and help develop new short sea links, the commission said.
The Commission is proposing more transparent and open procedures to designate the providers of port services. There will be rules to prevent possible price abuses by operators with exclusive rights. For greater customer-focus, the proposal introduces a port users' advisory committee. Details will be left to local circumstances so that local port communities can benefit from better coordination and a healthier business environment.
To further enhance efficiency, the Commission will bring forward proposals to cut red tape and reduce administrative formalities in ports before the .
EU funding under the “Connecting Europe Facility” will have a new focus on port projects identified in the so-called TEN-T corridor plans for priority funding and on connections of ports with rail, inland waterways and road. Ports will be encouraged to play an active role in this, for instance by providing information on traffic flows.
The proposal extends the freedom of ports to levy infrastructure charges and reinforces the transparency in the way the charges are set and in the use of public funding.
There are in total 1,200 seaports in Europe. This proposal targets the 319 key European ports which together can create a real European ports network capable of supporting Europe's internal market.