European Commission Withdraws Proposal on Port Services

The European Commission withdrew on Wednesday its proposal regarding directives on port services, stated Brussels.

The European Parliament voted against the proposal on the liberalization of cargo handling procedures in European seaports on 17 February 2006, during its first reading.

The EU port policy cannot refer exclusively to questions solving those directives proposed in October 2004. The goal of that policy is to help European ports to promptly handle the growing maritime traffic and to face the risk of saturated port capacities, reported the EC.

The Commission will address this question again during the mid-term revision of the White book on transport policy, towards the end of April 2006. Jaques Barrot, vice-president of the EC will launch a discussion with all interest groups, Parliament and the member countries talking about the strategic guidelines proposed by the White book.

An important contribution to the whole discussion will be the annual conference of the European Seaports Organization, planned for 1&2 March in Stockholm, which will be attended by Jaques Barrot.

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