Liberalisation of EU port services: state of play

Briefing 30-10-2014

Serving as access points to the continent, Europe’s approximately 1 200 seaports are crucial to both the European transport sector and the competitiveness of the European Union (EU). They also have significant potential for creating jobs and attracting investors. There are huge disparities in performance levels between the various EU ports, however, and this has resulted in traffic diversions, longer journeys by sea and by land, and, consequently, higher CO2 emissions. The European Commission plans to resolve this situation through its latest proposal to liberalise port services in the EU’s 319 main seaports.