The Official Journal of the European Union has published last 5th July its Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on ‘A European ports policy in relation to the communication from the Commission on a European Ports Policy COM(2007) 616 final.

The Opinion is focused on the following topics:

1. Port performance and hinterland connections.
2. Expanding capacity while respecting the environment.
3. Modernisation.
4. A level playing field — clarity for investors, operators and users.
5. Establishing a structured dialogue between ports and cities.
6. Work in ports.

Some of the main conclusión of the Comité of the Regions are:

• CdR laments the delay in the building of infrastructure for the trans-European network (TEN) and calls on the Commission to better inform the Member States and the regions and cities about available funding possibilities and in this way help them to build up capacity and infrastructure for land access to ports (hinterland connections) and for the seaward approaches to ports (connections between ports and shipping lanes) and to develop logistic distribution networks.
• CdR believes that future rules for the granting of aid to motorways of the sea must formally involve the regions, and, in this connection, calls for a generally simplified procedure that better reflects the interests of the undertakings involved and thus fosters the more widespread use and acceptance of environmentally sound maritime transport.
• CdR calls for economic incentives to be introduced to ensure appropriate port infrastructure and adequate sea transport to island and remote coastal regions, in order to promote the sustainable development of these areas and to minimise factors hampering business activity and equal access to major European markets.