FEPORT adopts ‘strategic Roadmap 2018-2019’ to boost private investments

The Federation of European Private Port Operators and Terminals (FEPORT) has called upon the European Union to ensure terminal operators have a level playing field and competitive investment opportunities.    The Federation of European Private Port Operators and Terminals (FEPORT) adopted its “strategic Roadmap 2018-2020” at a General Assembly meeting in Brussels on Wednesday in light of the “upcoming disruptive changes within the maritime logistics chain,” the organization announced.
   “We are quite satisfied by the implementation of our strategic roadmap 2015-2017 and about the outcome of the legislative procedures regarding two major regulations that concern the port sector, namely the Ports Regulation adopted in January 2017 and the General Block Exemption Regulation adopted in May 2017,” said Gunther Bonz, president of FEPORT. “Yet, our feeling is that the recognition of the role of the private investors in EU ports is not at the level it should be.”
   Bonz said that FEPORT has supported the principle of a clarification of the rules applicable to the port sector but terminal operators are now confronted with the hard reality of national and local interpretations or administrative decisions which may discourage private investment in European ports. “We hope that discussions within the European Port Forum will offer opportunities to exchange with the European Commission and  Member States about this issue and raise awareness about the role of private investors in the modernization of European ports,” he said. 
   Bonz cited the fact that terminal operators are investing in ports but they need a level playing field and fair competition with other actors in the maritime logistics chain. “We call upon EU regulators to guarantee a balanced maritime policy that prevents distortion of competition, be it through regulatory measures or imbalances in the allocation of EU funds to innovation,” he said.   
   During the General Assembly meeting, new members of the Board of Directors were been elected from organizations such as ZDS, Assiterminal, UNIM, Deltalinqs, Scandinavian Associations, Iberia Associations, CEPA, PSA, DP World, APMT, HPH, and EUROGATE.     
   Additionally, the Deepwater Container Terminal Gdansk at the Port of Gdansk became a member of FEPORT this week. “We are very glad to welcome DCT as new member of FEPORT. The representation of Polish terminals and port operators within FEPORT has increased over the last number of years. It shows that our colleagues in the different Polish ports are proactive and see the added value of joining an organization like ours. With the support of a company like DCT, FEPORT will continue to raise awareness about the contribution of our industry to the European economy and the subsequent creation of EU based jobs,” said Bonz.