Lamia Kerdjoudj-Belkaid
Brussels, July 12th, 2018 – FEPORT welcomes the adoption of the European Parliament report on Combined Transport
FEPORT welcomes the adoption on July 10th, 2018 of the report of the Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee of the European Parliament on the proposed revision of the Combined Transport Directive. FEPORT believes that the agreement forms a good basis for furthering discussions during the Austrian Presidency.
The report of the Parliament further improves the Commission text, most notably being clarification on support measures for terminal development. The report states that support measures should first and foremost focus on increasing terminal efficiency and capacity. Support measures for new terminal developments will only be possible where there is no existing market.
The report also focuses on how to incentive combined transport operations, namely by offering incentives to road transport if they are part of a combined transport operation, which should ensure an increase in combined transport.
FEPORT Secretary General, Ms. Lamia Kerdjoudj-Belkaid, stated that “the report of the TRAN Committee offers to the private port companies and terminals’ sector need clarify on when and how State support will be allowed for terminal development. This clarity is crucial in ensuring that private actors will continue to invest in developing Europe’s terminal infrastructure”.
Ms. Kerdjoudj-Belkaid continued “the shift of approach from focusing on terminal development to an approach of incentivizing combined transport operations will lead to more combined transport operations, which will subsequently make the sector more attractive to private investment in terminal efficiency and capacity.”
FEPORT now calls on the European Parliament and European Council to proceed in negotiations so as to ensure that a legal framework for combined transport is adopted as soon as possible.
