Provision of port services and financial transparency of ports: enabling managing bodies or competent authorities to provide flexibility in respect of the levying of port infrastructure charges in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak

The European Parliament adopted by 531 votes to 141, with 16 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2017/352, so as to enable managing bodies or competent authorities to provide flexibility in respect of the levying of port infrastructure charges in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

It should be noted that a proposal to reject the Commission proposal, tabled by the Green/EFA group, was rejected in plenary.

Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure. As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act.

The proposed Regulation aims at ensuring the financial stability of ship operators in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak by relaxing the current rule requiring Member States to ensure the payment of a port infrastructure charges.

In view of the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, the new transitional provision provides the managing bodies of a port or the competent authorities with the possibility to waive, suspend, reduce or defer the payment of port infrastructure charges due for the period from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2020.

The waiver, suspension, reduction or deferral of the port infrastructure charge must be granted in a transparent, objective and non-discriminatory way to all port users subject to port infrastructure charges.