

(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.”
Thanks to a suite of recent upgrades, vessels can now access the Port of Oshawa, Canada, 24/7, giving... Read more
The Port of Liverpool has bid farewell to its longest-serving vessel, the Yeoman Bank, after it made... Read more
Abu Dhabi based AD Ports Group, a leading enabler of global trade, logistics, and industry, has officially... Read more
Throughput in the port of Rotterdam decreased by 4.1% in the first half of 2025. This brought the total... Read more
The Supervisory Board of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) has appointed Jeroen Eijsink as... Read more
As the 2025 marine shipping season has progressed, grain traffic has remained the dominant story of... Read more
Asian Bulk Logistics (ABL), has finalised its acquisition of Transhipment Services Australia (TSA),... Read more
In the first six months of this year, nearly 19 million tons of cargo were handled at Klaipeda Port.... Read more
S.H. Bell Company, a trusted name in cargo handling, warehousing, and logistics for more than 90 years... Read more
In the first six months of 2025, the total throughput of Port of Antwerp-Bruges was 137.2 million tonnes... Read more