Organised in partnership with the Marseilles Fos Port Authority, the ESPO 2009 Conference will focus on the sustainability of the European port system in the context of the forthcoming review of the Trans-European Transport Networks (TEN-T). The conference will be held in Marseilles on 14 and 15 May.
The European Commission is expected to publish a Green Paper on the TEN-T review early 2009 after which a consultation period will be held. One of the main questions will be whether a prioritisation of EU investments in ports is desirable, taking into account the need to link ports to the hinterland transport networks of Europe and to ensure a sustainable balance. The platform of the ESPO Conference is meant to provide input to this potentially controversial debate, incorporating the views of different stakeholders.
Economic Analysis
In order to have a meaningful exchange of views based on facts rather than perception, ESPO has commissioned an economic analysis of port-related traffic flows in Europe from the Institute of Transport and Maritime Management Antwerp (ITMMA) as a basis for discussions. Bottlenecks on the major European transport corridors concerned will be analysed as well as the development potential of regional co-operative networks between ports.
The conference will also look at the opportunities EU policy instruments and funding mechanisms may bring. Particular attention will in this context be paid to the impact of the EC State aid and environmental guidelines which are both expected to be published in 2009. Next to the regular conference, a special interest seminar will be held in the morning of 14 May on co-operation and competition in the Mediterranean.
Speakers
Preparations on the conference programme are progressing well with following speakers having already confirmed their participation:
– Joan Amorós, Secretary General Ferrmed
– Alfred Baird, Napier University Edinburgh
– Patrick Bernard-Brunet, DG REGIO European Commission
– Joachim Coens, President and CEO Port of Zeebrugge
– Robert Coleman, Former Director-General of Transport in the European Commission
– Emanuele Grimaldi, CEO Grimaldi Group
– Roland Hörner, Managing Director Port of Mannheim
– Ola Johannessen, President of the Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research
– Philippe Louis-Dreyfus, Chairman of ECSA
– Constantin Matei, General Manager Port of Constantza
– Theo Notteboom, Chairman Institute of Transport and Maritime Management Antwerp
– Bogdan Oldakowski, Secretary General Baltic Ports Organisation
– Uffe Steiner Jensen, Chairman Danish Ports and Mayor of Fredericia
– Marc Stordiau, Chairman European Dredging Association
– Jean-Claude Terrier, Director-General Port of Marseilles
– Juhani Vainio, Centre for Maritime Studies University of Turku
– Luis Valente de Oliveira, EU Coordinator Motorways of the Sea
– Eric Van Hooydonk, Chairman European Institute of Maritime and Transport Law
– Angel Zaburtov, Deputy Director General Bulgarian Port Infrastructure
Company Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani has been invited to give the closing keynote address of the conference.
Registration
Registration is for the conference is now possible through the https://www.espo-conference.com[conference website] where full details on programme and practical arrangements are available.
