Ports and maritime infrastructures, multimodal trans-European network. Green paper

The resolution drafted by Georg JARZEMBOWSKI (D, EPP) on the Commission's Green Paper on sea ports and maritime infrastructure was approved by the European Parliament. The report calls on the Commission to take measures to clarify the conditions of competition among and within European ports and, in consultation with the Council and the Parliament, draw up a proposal for guidelines on the monitoring of aid to and competition among sea ports and port undertakings. It recommends that the Commission should break up the assessment of public financing of port and maritime infrastructure into three categories: - public port infrastructure measures do not constitute state aid within the meaning of Article 92 of the Treaty; - port infrastructure measures for undertakings do not constitute state aids if financed at cost level; - port superstructure measures related to undertakings are always subject to the provisions of aid legislation and their public financing is always ruled out; The report takes the view that operating aid for undertakings of or in sea ports is inadmissible and is opposed to the idea of adopting a Community framework concerning charges for sea port infrastructure, port fees or and/or terminal fees. It also sees no need for Community legislation on organisational structure and market access for port services.�