Huhne Welcomes New EU Proposals to Cut Transport Costs for Traders

12.50.07pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 14th Oct 2004

New Proposals Will Open Up Ports (Photo: I. Britton and supplied by FreeFoto.com)

The European Commission today made proposals to open up European ports to greater competition which should provide benefits for British exporters and importers.

A previous EU proposal to open the ports services market was rejected by the European Parliament in November last year after Labour MEPs, influenced by the trade unions, went against the Labour government´s support for the measure.

Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrat MEP for Hampshire today welcomed the new proposal saying: "We need to have a proper single market for shipping with vigorous competition between ports, and this proposal will help achieve that.

"The new plans are potentially good news for local ports across the South East, and for British exports, which will benefit from more efficient services in European ports. Our ports have long suffered from the lack of a level playing field in Europe, so it is essential that state-subsidised continental ports compete according to the same rules as those in the UK."

"At the same time we will campaign to ensure that these new rules neither discourage investment nor create unnecessary bureaucracy. Most importantly, greater competition in the European port sector should boost traffic, create new jobs and potentially improve the environment by getting freight off our roads".

Mr Huhne said he looked forward to hearing the detailed views of employers and trade unions on the proposal as it is considered by member state ministers and the European Parliament.