Antonio López-Istúriz: “Shipping in Europe will increase 50% by 2030”
04/10/2013
Antonio López-Istúriz, the Secretary-General of the European People’s Party and Euro MP for the Balearic Islands, today gave the closing speech at the port law conference organised by the Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) at the Port of Palma in conjunction with the International Port Law Association, Acciona and the State-owned Ports Body.
López-Istúriz highlighted the impact of ports in Europe and predicted a 50% increase in European goods shipping by 2030. He also revealed that the European Commission is keeping a close eye on the industry to “attract investment” aimed at developing European ports.
“Europe needs ports and ports need Europe,” were the words of the Euro MP, who pointed out that the European Commission’s main challenges are to boost the development of European ports, promote short-sea shipping to free-up roads, and improve connections to land transport networks. To achieve this, according to López-Istúriz, action must involve using the future transport corridors, simplifying administrative procedures in ports by implementing e-management, monitoring public procurement mechanisms, promoting sustainable management and investing in innovation and human resources.
Promotion and dialogue
Immediately afterwards, Jorge Nasarre, the APB’s Director, summarised the two-day conference whose content centred on issues such as administrative concessions in ports, the analysis of TSJIB jurisprudence in relation to the APB, port authorities’ economic regulations and the urban development of State-owned ports’ service areas. Nasarre stressed the APB initiative was a way to promote and encourage transparent, open dialogue between government and private organisations in order to boost development in public-interest ports.
The conference was attended by a large audience, the majority of whom were port facility managers from across Spain.
