Confitarma calls for a greater say in the allocation of port concessions

"Logistics - specified Mattioli - must be understood in the broadest sense of the term encompassing hardware (infrastructure, means of transport) and software (governance, digital and communication systems). Ships and ports, elements fundamentals of the logistics chain - explained the president of Confitarma - are strategic assets for the import-export of goods, differentiation of sources of supply energy of the country. For this, the State must be aware of such strategicity and make sure that inevitable phenomena and not necessarily negative, such as globalization and vertical integration of logistics activities, not represent a critical factor that can compromise the competitiveness of domestic enterprises, employment and prosperity of citizens. The choices that will be made could strengthen or weaken resilience of the national logistics system'.

Referring then, in particular, to the shipowning sector, the President of Confitarma noted that the obligation imposed by the European Union to recognize also to Community ships the benefits of the International Register provided for the flag Italian could lead to a significant reduction in the fleet tricolor. "This, in our opinion - said Mattioli - can be avoided through the adoption of debureaucratization, often at no cost to the treasury, such as those arising within the framework of the Table of the Sea established by the MIMS or those provided for in bill 3239, which reduce the differential of the management costs of the Italian flag compared to to the most competitive Community flags, evaluated in EUR 100 000 per year per ship.'

Mattioli also focused on the problems of port sector, highlighting those that in the opinion of Confitarma are the limits of a system that entrusts to the Authorities of Port System and the Maritime Authorities the management of concessions, with the consequent difficulty of having a framework homogeneous at national level. 'The reform of Article 18 of Law 84/94, contained in the annual bill for the market and competition 2021 now under consideration by the Chamber - has mattioli observed - it goes in the right direction, but it is necessary to emanate as soon as possible the ministerial regulation and, above all, provide for coordination at central level to assess individual assignments in terms of strategic nature and "independence" national logistics by strengthening in this respect what currently envisaged in relation to the competences of the Conference national coordination of the AdSP, but above all expanding the participation in stakeholders, primarily shipowners and terminal operators».

In addition to taking into account the strategic nature of the areas ports entrusted in concession and activities in them according to Confitarma, it is more appropriate than ever to be vigilant also carefully on the conditions of access to the use of these infrastructure so that this can be done in a transparent and non-discriminatory for operators. «The areas ports - said Mattioli - constitute a strategic asset connecting infrastructures that are in turn strategic: appropriate measures are therefore needed to monitor transparent criteria and equitable concessions for their use'. Referring then to the participation of shipowners in the organs that decide on the allocation of these areas, remembering that the law Regulation (EEC) No 84/94 on ports has reserved for the category of shipowners only one representative in these bodies and noting that 'at the time of the adoption of the aforementioned legislation, unlike today, existed a single association representing private armaments', we - specified Mattioli - "we believe it is necessary make the appropriate changes so that the association that at the local level it represents more the national armament (having a permanent establishment in Italy) can always express a its representative in the Partnership Bodies of the Sea Resource of the Port System Authorities and in the local advisory commissions'.

Mattioli concluded his speech by specifying that Confitarma welcomes the development of SEZs and FTAs as element of attraction of new investment and growth for the ports, in particular those of the Mezzogiorno, increasingly in competition with the ports of the southern shore of the Mediterranean.