FEPORT Looking at a More Strategic Approach

FEPORT During a gathering in Klaipeda, the members of the Federation of European Private Port Operators (FEPORT) have discussed the strategic roadmap of the organization for the three coming years. As key assets which require a more strategic approach from national and European policy makers and regulators, the port members also commented on the adoption of the Ports Regulation in February 2017 and the General Block Exemption Regulation in May 2017. Both texts have mobilized our membership and organization because it was crucial to avoid that those pieces of legislation have counterproductive effects on private port investments. It was a also important to make sure that they are consistent to avoid confusion or legal uncertainty, Gunther Bonz, President of FEPORT, said. We are satisfied with the outcome and think that both above mentioned texts and the concession Directive, which applies to Greenfield port projects, form a consistent legal framework that will allow us to invest, Bonz added. Furthermore, he informed that it is essential that these three pieces of legislation are now implemented in the same way everywhere and that no extensive interpretation of provisions, for instance regarding the prolongation of existing concessions, is made.