TIM eMagazine Vol.2 Issue 4
“European shipping is a strong global player. This should be cherished and the EU’s
competitive position should be further enhanced”, Patrick Verhoeven said
Shipowners welcome Council
conclusions on EU maritime
transport policy
ECSA Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven
N
European Transport Ministers
adopted today conclusions on
the priorities for the EU’s maritime
transport policy until 2020.
The conclusions endorse the
content of the so-called “Valletta
Declaration” adopted at the informal
ministerial conference organised by
the Maltese Presidency end of March.
“With the current EU strategy for maritime transport
policy 2009-2018 coming to an end in less than two years’
time, we are pleased that the Council is identifying what
to prioritise next”, commented ECSA Secretary General
Patrick Verhoeven. “The conclusions adopted today set
out the right priorities and challenges: competitiveness,
simplification and digitalisation, decarbonisation and the
reduction of air emissions”, he added.
ECSA believes that these priorities must be developed
beyond 2020 and calls for an ambitious shipping strategy
for the period 2019-2028. For EU shipping to flourish, it
needs a stable, forward looking policy and regulatory
framework with a global orientation.
“European shipping is a strong global player. This should
be cherished and the EU’s competitive position should be
further enhanced”, Patrick Verhoeven said.
European shipowners engage themselves to work
with the EU institutions and stakeholders to achieve the
following:
Effective implementation of the maritime state-aid
guidelines to allow for new growth opportunities of the
maritime cluster and more competitiveness.
Ambitious trade deals to keep global markets open.
Simplification and rationalisation of administrative
formalities and the establishment of a true single market
for shipping.
The establishment of global CO2 reduction objectives
and measures through the International Maritime
Organization.
The promotion of maritime careers in the EU. ecsa.eu
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