Events

ESPO 2007 Conference - Algeciras

European Commission's consultation on a future EU port policy

The ESPO 2007 Conference coincided with the closure of the Commission’s consultation exercise on a future EU policy for seaports (see also a description of the past process on establishing a EU port policy). The conference drew together the findings of the thematic workshops organised by the Commission and aimed to compare views of stakeholders on outstanding issues of discussion. These were centred on the following themes:

- Sustainable development of seaports and hinterland connections
- Strengthening the performance of seaports as intermodal nodal points
- Ensuring transparency and fair competition in and between ports

ESPO and ITMMA Market analysis of the EU port sector

The ESPO 2007 conference opened with a session that provided first-hand insight in the principal market, social and policy developments that drive European seaports. On this occasion, ESPO presented a new market analysis of the EU port sector, which was prepared by the Institute of Maritime and Transport Management Antwerp (ITMMA).

Contribution of ESPO to the European Commission’s consultation
on a future EU policy for seaports

The General Assembly of ESPO adopted the morning before the ESPO 2007 Conference in Algeciras an extensive paper which serves as contribution to the Commission’s consultation exercise. It is based on earlier recommendations of ESPO and brings together the input ESPO gave at each of the thematic workshops. The paper also builds on the extensive market analysis report on the European seaport industry prepared by ITMMA.

Commissioner Barrot's outline of the next steps

The conference concluded with a keynote address by Commissioner Barrot on the preparation of the Commission’s Seaport Policy Communication which is expected to be published in autumn this year.

The full proceedings of the ESPO 2007 Conference - including an extensive report on the consultation sessions - are available here.

Presentations can be found below.

Click here for photos of the event.

Day one: Thursday, 31 May 2007

Official welcome and opening of the ESPO 2007 Conference

Giuliano Gallanti, Chairman of ESPO
Manuel Moròn Ledro, President of the Port Authority of Algeciras Bay
Mariano Navas Guttiérrez, President of Puertos del Estado
Fotis Karamitsos, Director Logistics, Innovation, Co-modality and Maritime Transport, European Commission"

Introductory session: Overall market, social and policy challenges of European seaports

Chair and introduction: Patrick Verhoeven, Secretary General of ESPO
Prof. Dr. Theo Notteboom, Chairman of the Institute of Transport and Maritime Management Antwerp (ITMMA)
Tommy Thomsen, Partner A.P. Møller – Maersk A/S
Eduardo Chagas, Secretary General of the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) (text version)
Prof. Dr. Jan Simons, Rapporteur on Seaport Policy for the European Economic and Social Committee

Consultation session: Sustainable development of seaports and hinterland connections

Chair and introduction: Jean Trestour, Head of Port Policy, European Commission

Response from European stakeholder organisations

Open debate

Keynote address: Reflections on the future role of port authorities

Leo Baron Delwaide, Honorary Chairman of the Antwerp Port Authority

Day two: Friday, 1 June 2007

Keynote address: Cross-border co-operation between seaports

Chair and introduction: Dr. Peter de Langen, Erasmus University Rotterdam

The case of the Strait of Gibraltar:

Manuel Morón Ledro, President of the Port Authority of Algeciras Bay
Said El Hadi, President of the Board of Directors of Tanger Mediterranean Special Agency

Consultation session: Strengthening the performance of seaports as intermodal nodal points

Chair and introduction: Jean Trestour, Head of Port Policy, European Commission

Response from European stakeholder organisations

Open debate 

Consultation session: Ensuring transparency and fair competition in and between ports

Chair: Jean Trestour, Head of Port Policy, European Commission

Response from European stakeholder organisations

Open debate

Keynote address: A European Seaport Policy for all Seasons

Jacques Barrot, Vice-President of the European Commission, Commissioner for Transport

Closing of the ESPO 2007 Conference

Giuliano Gallanti, Chairman of ESPO
Jana Schiedek, Hamburg Port Authority – Host of the ESPO 2008 Conference
Closing lunch and tour of the port of Algeciras including a visit to the APM Terminals container terminal.