Port services: market access and financing of maritime ports

The European Parliament adopted a resolution based on the report by Georg JARZEMBOWSKI (EPP-ED, Germany) making several amendments to the Council's common position. (Please refer to the document dated 18/02/03.) On the question of transparency of financial relations, Parliament inserted a clause stating that every port and port system must submit details required by Directive 80/723/EEC within the time limits laid down. The same applies to financial relations between Member States and providers of port services, regardless of whether the other provisions of that Directive apply to them. The Commission and Member States will then use the data submitted to take the measures required under Community law to establish fair conditions of competition in and between Community ports. Within three years of entry into force of the directive, the Commission must submit a report on the transparency of financial relations in port and port systems and measures taken in relation to them by Member States and the Commission. On the question of transparency of State aids, the Commission must submit proposals necessary to bring about transparency in state funding of Community ports. The Commission must draw up common guidelines for aid given to ports by Member States or out of public funds for investment in port infrastructure, and will indicate which aids to ports are compatible with the common market. Parliament also required a study by an independent research consortium into direct and indirect public financing, State aids and cost accounting in Community ports and port systems. The study will focus on the costs of port infrastructure and superstructure, port services, port undertakings and port-related business. With regard to self-handlers, Parliament felt that they should be treated in the same way as other port services providers, meeting the same social standards and holding the same professional qualifications as other providers of the same or comparable port service.�