European Shipowners Unveil 16+1 Proposals to Boost Shipping

European shipowners unveiled on Tuesday 16+1 proposals to highlight the industry’s point of view and priorities ahead of the upcoming review of the EU shipping policy in 2017 by the European Commission.

“What we really want to show Transport Commissioner Bulc is that our proposals tie in with the Commission’s broader policy objectives. There are many low-hanging fruits that could allow us to make a tangible contribution to these goals,” commented Thomas Rehder, ECSA President.

The proposals include benchmarking of EU shipping clusters against successful global maritime centres, securing access for EU shipping to markets overseas, facilitating trusted partnerships in IMO and other international fora and stimulating early ratification of international conventions.

The industry suggestions include proposals to foster the EU’s global leadership in the shipping sector, as well as other proposals which will help complete the internal market for shipping, give a boost to jobs in the maritime cluster and help reduce the continent’s CO2 emissions through co-modality and a shift of passengers and cargo to sea.

Complementing the 16 policy proposals, a “better regulation” checklist is also put forward by EU shipowners, containing an international subsidiarity test to ensure that EU shipping regulation has added value above what can be achieved at international level, as well as seeking alignment with better regulation principles.

“Instead of presenting the Commission with a wish list, we are proposing a series of quick wins that are equally beneficial to the industry as they are to the EU. We sincerely hope our efforts will facilitate the work of the Commission services and we stand ready to assist them and support them in the most effective way,” continued  Rehder.

Speaking at an ECSA high-level event organised for the occasion, Transport Commissioner Bulc thanked ECSA for its contribution and expressed the hope that the industry and the Commission can translate these priorities into concrete actions.

“The 16+1 ECSA points are a very holistic proposal. I invite the shipping industry to work closer with the Commission in the directions you propose. It’s  a process that will make us both stronger,” said Bulc.

One of Bulc’s recurring proposals was digitalisation and its many benefits in areas such as administrative simplification and the completion of the internal market for shipping, which reportedly remain a cornerstone of the Commission’s shipping policy.

The sixteen proposals included among others identification of barriers that prevent the establishment of true Motorways of the Sea, completion of the Single Market for shipping, simplification of procedures for regular short sea services with third countries, establishing simple, tailored and technology-neutral access to EU funding of life-long careers in shipping, at sea and on land – along with support to the training of seafarers and apprenticeships of cadets in Europe.