In next the ten necessary years they will be 48 billion euros of investments in the European ports



In period 2018-2027 pairs to about 48 billion euros in order developing modern infrastructures will be necessary investments in the European ports, sustainable and very connected so that the harbour ports of call continue to not only carry out theirs important role as primary nodes of the transport net, but also as poles of attraction for the industry and the logistics, in order to assure mobility of the passengers and in the picture of the energetic transition.

It emphasizes a realized study in order to characterize the future requirements of investment of the European ports and in order to estimate the passage ability to the ports to benefit of the various financial instruments of the EU that is commissioned by the European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO) in sight of the presentation of own contribution to the public consultation for the predisposition of the new European program Mechanism in order To connect Europe (CEF II) that it will have the scope to finance the infrastructural projects of the transeuropea net in period 2021-2028 in the fields of the transports, the telecommunications and the energy, program that second the forecasts will be introduced next the 29 May.

The study, realized by Peter de Langen, Mateu Turró, Martina Fontanet and Jordi Caballé, estimates the necessary investments in next the ten years in note 48 billion euros, due requirements mainly due to external factors which the increase of the commercial flows, the new trends in the marine field, the decarbonizzazione and other environmental requirement, the digitalisation, the automation, the city development and the challenges to safety. In spite of this diversity of requirements, the investments in infrastructures of base, infrastructures of marine access and the connections with the outback represent beyond the half of the projects that the organisms of harbour management preview for the next decade.

Peter de Langen has specified that the participation under consideration of the European ports has been excellent, with 73 ports that they represent beyond 60% of the volumes of marine traffic of the EU that they have supplied information on about 400 projects of investment". "Consequently - it has specified - now we have a detailed understanding of the requirements of investment of the European ports".

The association of the European ports has evidenced that, although the general acknowledgment of the meaningful role of the ports and the their multiple responsibilities, up to now the projects started from the harbour authorities are successful to only attract 4% of the financings of program CEF and solo a third party of the introduced projects has received financings. However the results of the study show that the mechanisms of public financing remain an element a lot important for the harbour administrations.

On the base of the results of the study, in own contribution to consultation ESPO it has evidenced the necessity that the program of financings CEF II reflects i following elements: financings as essential member of the investments in harbour projects with an elevated added value but with lowland profit financial institution; clear methodology and very defined in order to define the added value of the EU, that it goes beyond "the transboundary" projects; management in charge of the financings through a more rigorous analysis cost-benefits; a vision in the long term of the financing priorities that allow with the ports to manage projects of high quality; co-financing defined on the base of the deficiency of investments; just level of approval: the harbour projects of smaller dimensions that national or regional financings do not preview would not have to demand the anticipated approval of the Member States.

"The study - it has found Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO general secretary - shows a model of investment of the European ports that reflects the essential role very well and a lot diversified of the ports for the economy. We - he has emphasized - hope lively that the study and our recommendations can help the Commission and the political responsibles of the EU to develop a strong proposal CEF II with a sufficient attention to the added value of the harbour projects for the EU. To such purpose - Ryckbost has explained - he is fundamental to recognize the ports as international infrastructures. Less of 10% of the goods enlivened in the European ports is constituted by national traffic. The ports are not only the European doors for the commerce with the Third-country, but they create also a value for the community that exceeds the national borders. They represent the main connection between the sea and the immense outback and the economy".

"The investments in the European marine ports - it has continued Ryckbost - are essential if strategic objectives in a range wide of political fields of the EU are wanted to be reached. If the European marine ports cannot carry out the necessary investments, then the main political objectives in transport, in the energy and the atmosphere will be compromises. In many cases - it has evidenced - the main benefits of the harbour projects, rather than on the same harbour authority, fall back more in general terms on the community and the economy. This is particularly true when the ports invest in base infrastructures in order to have of ability to future increase".