Commission drops port services directive 

On 8 March, the Commission decided to withdraw the port services proposal which was already rejected by the Parliament on 18 January (see EurActiv, 18 January). Several member states were also reluctant on certain provisions of the directive. The Commission explains that an EU ports policy cannot be limited to the questions dealt with by the proposed directive from October 2004. 

The proposed directive, which was subject of fierce protests by dock workers (see EurActiv, 16 January), aimed to open ports to competition, where loading and unloading are managed by monopoly handlers. It should also respond efficiently to increasing maritime traffic and to risks of saturation of port capacity. 

The Commission will now reconsider this issue during its mid-term review of the White Paper on transport policy at the end of April. Vice-President Jacques Barrot will launch a wide debate with stakeholders, Parliament and member states on the future port policy. He will also attend the annual conference of the European Seaports Organisation (ESPO ) in Stockholm on 1 and 2 June which will be an important contribution to the debate.