Port of Rotterdam Authority presents European agenda

Business | May 31, 2009
Rotterdam has been Europe’s main port for many decades. It owes this position to its natural location, the politico-economic position of the Netherlands and the consistent national and regional investment policy on infrastructure, geared towards the long term.

Rotterdam has also benefited greatly from the qualitative and quantitative development of the EU and vice versa. For about five years now, it has been taking more active responsibility in terms of contributing to and influencing Union policy relevant to the port. Examples include the initiation of and active participation in supranational initiatives and pan-European projects such as the development of transport corridors and in interest groups such as the European Seaports Organisation (ESPO).

As of today, the port of Rotterdam will be taking a further step in this process with the presentation of its European agenda for 2009 - 2014 'Working together on Europe’. This was prompted by the approaching European elections, the formation of a new European Parliament and a new European Commission in the autumn of 2009. European legislation relating to port, transport, safety and environmental issues affects the development opportunities of ports.

The arrangement of the Agenda is based on Rotterdam’s overarching policy themes: Room for Growth, Accessibility and Sustainability, and it contains fifteen practical recommendations for the further development of a powerful port sector in the Union. In the first instance, the accent is on:

* framework of state support;
* High quality hinterland connections through the creation of a market-oriented transport network based on interoperability;
* Realistic and source-based environmental policy, for example relating to fumigating containers and preventing contradictory and overlapping environmental legislation;
* Preventing protectionism and promoting free world trade (general/topical).

Source: http://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/home/

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