The European Maritime Transport Ministers have met in Malta to set out political priorities for the EU’s Maritime Transport Policy. They urge for a level palying field with regard to taxes, environmental standards, alternative fuels and digitalisation.
Competitiveness, decarbon[ds_preview]isation and digitalisation are the guiding principles that will serve as a basis for the EU‘s maritime transport policy up to 2020 and beyond. Those principals were adopted at an informal ministerial conference organised by the presidency on 29 March 2017.
The European Maritime Transport Ministers call for a level playing field in Europe and abroad. »In order to develop a world leading maritime transport industry in Europe, it is essential to provide stable, predictable and competitive framework conditions based on high international standards for safety, security, environment and social conditions,« the council conclusion say.
Well-connected and modern ports and efficient short sea shipping were acknowledged as a key to preserve and attract new industries and logistic activities, to link up the different regions within the internal market of the Union and support the »greening of transport«.
The council sees a need to boost the creation of a network of multimodal transport corridors connecting industrial, peripheral, insular and island areas and featuring modern trans-shipment facilities, efficient and sustainable port infrastructure, automation trends and advanced technologies embedded in the appropriate regulatory and administrative framework. The members call for continued work within the framework of the guidelines of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) and the Connecting Europe Facility making optimal use of the relevant financial instruments and grants.
A maritime sector attractive to future generations
To avoid the European maritime cluster encountering a shortage of competent staff, the council aims to make the EU maritime transport sector attractive to future generations with the right mix of skills and competencies. Also in this regard, the ministers see a need to strengthen the establishment of a social level playing field in shipping and ensure fair treatment of seafarers by effectively applying the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and relevant agreements between social partners. Initiatives and actions in order to attract and train a sufficient number of EU seafarers are to be supported.
Member stated are encouraged to continue to advocate transparent, globally binding and technologically advanced standards that do not distort competition and thereby seek for international solutions. The council sees added value in the Community Guidelines for State aid to maritime transport, and the need for a stable taxation framework in line with those guidelines, to maintain a global level playing field for EU shipping, further enhance the quality and attractiveness of flags of EU Member States.
Digitalisation and emissions
Digitalisation and emissions regulations formed another big part in the council conclusions. Exchange of data and a harmonization of technologies is believed to improve the sectors competitiveness. E.g. the council sees a need for full and swift implementation of the Blue Belt, including through a harmonised electronic cargo manifest (the e-Manifest).
The ministers urge the Commission and the Member States to cooperate on effective enforcement of regional and global rules on air emissions from ships. They support the Commission‘s initiatives for the promotion of the use of alternative energies and fuels for shipping, notably harmonised standards for LNG bunkering connectors and procedures for LNG bunkering in European ports (more details on the council conclusions can be found here).
