ESPO adopts report position

(Posted on 14/01/19)

The Transport Committee of the European Parliament has adopted its position on the Commission proposal for a regulation establishing a European Maritime Single Window Environment. In many ways, the adopted Clune report improves the Commission proposal and is a solid basis for finding a compromise with the Council on this long awaited proposal.

An overall majority of the TRAN MEPs voted in favour of the approach of the rapporteur Ms Deirdre Clune, who very rightly puts the emphasis on the harmonisation of data, on the balance between a right level of harmonisation and the need to keep pace with ongoing technological developments, on the respect for existing well-functioning reporting channels, such as the Port Community Systems and the investments made in that respect.

“Many of the proposals made are an important step forward for the maritime and port industry, while leaving enough flexibility to allow bottom-up developments and investments which aim at digitalising, not only the reporting formalities data chain as such but also the much wider data chain to the benefit of the whole logistic chain and wider port community. The reporting formalities issue is a very complex but very important issue. We are very grateful for the high level of understanding the rapporteur and shadow rapporteurs have shown over the last months”, says ESPO Secretary General, Isabelle Ryckbost, commenting the outcome of the vote.

ESPO regrets, however, that the realistic and straightforward EP approach is brought out of balance by the adoption of the proposal to develop an EU Common Access Point Interface. According to this proposal, a centralised EU Common Access Point Interface should be set up, on top of the harmonised National Single Windows and the Port Community Systems.

“The current Commission proposal is the result of in-depth evaluations of the different possible options to create a more efficient reporting environment for all stakeholders. The Commission has chosen the pathway of the harmonisation of the National Single Windows. The creation of an EU Common Access Point Interface on top of this, as called for in the adopted EP text, means a duplication of the to be harmonized National Single Windows. It would create an extra reporting layer, would add on administrative burden, complexity, costs and thus risks to result in adverse effects in terms of efficiency. We hope that the negotiators will go back to the Commission proposal on that point and will understand that adding on layers will not facilitate but complicate the maritime reporting environment. Let us try to deliver on the harmonisation of the data and of the National Single Windows”, adds Isabelle Ryckbost.”