ESPO 2014 Conference to welcome main players on Port Regulation proposal

26 March 2014

On 23 May 2013, the Commission adopted the Port Regulation proposal. Almost one year later, the Parliament decided not to vote anymore on the proposal before the European elections. How to read this postponement? What will happen after the elections? What is happening in the Council? How is the Commission reacting to the postponement? What if...?

If you really want to know where we stand with the Port Regulation proposal and what is to be expected, join us at the ESPO annual conference in Gothenburg and hear it directly from the three “protagonists”.

The Commission:  Vice-President and Commissioner for Transport Siim Kallas will join us on the first day of the conference to deliver one of the main keynote speeches. He will be joined by different high level Commission representatives who, on the second day of the conference, will enter into a discussion with the ports on the Regulation and the broader European “Port Policy” from different angles: transport, competition and environment.

The Council: ESPO will have the honour to welcome Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, President of the Transport Council of the EU and Greek Minister of Shipping and Maritime Affairs. Minister Varvitsiotis will give us a better insight in the work of the Greek Presidency and will draw a picture of the progress made on the Port Regulation and the different maritime issues on the Council’s agenda.

The Parliament:  Since September, Knut Fleckenstein, EP Rapporteur for the Port Regulation proposal has been working hard to come to a first reading opinion before the EP elections. Mid March he decided together with the other shadows that a vote before the elections would not be possible. This does not mean that he is throwing in the towel. The main EP negotiators clearly expressed the wish that the new Transport Committee would consider the progress made on the proposal and continue the work. Reasons enough to listen to MEP Fleckenstein and understand what is at stake.

Eager to know more about what is to happen with this Port Regulation proposal? Do not miss this unique opportunity. Check the ESPO conference website, empty your calendar for 15 and 16 May, register and book your flight. Gothenburg is waiting for you!

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