Since now in the so-called Western world we resign ourselves to the progressive and increasingly rapid dismantling of the bases on which this world rests by those who propose as champions of the so-called Western civilization, it is not surprising now more - unfortunately - than even the processes of definition of the laws, or of the principles and rules of the organization of this world, are not carried out by parliaments, a function that the Constitution of the Italian Republic provides that "the exercise of the collectively by the two Chambers", but rather by the governments.

It is not surprising, therefore, that the National Union of Port Companies (Uniport), the association representing port companies pursuant to art. 16 of Law 84/94, terminal companies and shipping companies of the ro-pax segment, you accept, or perhaps even approve, or even appreciate that the reform of Italian port legislation be implemented through an enabling law. Certainly admitted possibility by the Constitutional Charter on the basis of which, moreover, 'The exercise of the legislative function may not be delegated to the government except with the determination of principles and criteria and only for a limited time and for defined objects". Boundaries that are too often crossed, indeed ignored, being It is now practice, rather than delegating, to cede the function to the government Legislative.

A parliamentary process expands the involvement of the different parties involved in the definition of laws. Otherwise, the government often presents decrees whose content up to the day before they are transmitted to the Chambers, sure of a rapid and safe conversion into law by the Competent parliamentary committees.

This is clearly the case with the reform of legislation port, which would seem to be on the home stretch, of which today the Uniport itself, one of the important stakeholders in the market, admits to having incomplete and approximate knowledge. "Finally - is the feeling of the president of Uniport, Pasquale Legora - the clouds on a reform hypothesis are beginning to clear of the structure of the Italian port system of which it has been only talked for almost two years. The statements of the deputy minister Rixi released in recent days and the drafts of texts and slides that circulate, completely informally, converge on some points and allow at least to identify some themes that we intend to touch on and to understand the method with which it is planned to proceed".

"Of course," he admits, "we are still at the level of indications very general. On some relevant topics, such as the - asks the president of Uniport - is not clear how the reorganization objectives will be concretely declined and rationalization referred to and to which category of companies it refers to it; other issues seem to want to be addressed only for the sake of profiles and not overall (e.g. for cold ironing about which nothing is said about aspects of regulations which, on the other hand, appear urgent)".

To tell the truth, from what is circulating it seems very difficult get a clear idea today of what the future policy will be for Italian ports, not to mention more specific ones such as those indicated by Legora. It's hard to understand also from the statements of politicians involved in the reform, first of all the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, who on Wednesday spoke about the 'creation of a publicly controlled company with the task of managing investments and representing the system Italian port at an international level". Unavoidable ask what he means by publicly controlled companies: speaks of a public company, which also carries out activities or, as it would seem, a subsidiary company Even by private individuals?

Speaking of this company, in the statements of the In recent years, Rixi has redone himself several times to ENAV, the joint-stock company that manages traffic civil aircraft and which is controlled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance Department, which holds 53.3% of the capital and is owned by a number of investment companies and institutional investors. But also to Anas, the company for shares with sole shareholder the Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane group, which is wholly controlled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Finance.

The president of Uniport also notes that "the hypothesis of Establishment of a publicly controlled company to investments then it is still little more than a security from which, among other things, he observes, a doubt emerges and one of the Main observations of terminal operators and companies port companies: the role of the private sector is enhanced only as an investor in the network/infrastructure? Because nothing is said regarding greater involvement and enhancement of the role of the companies that so far with their investments and their ability to operational and organizational skills have guaranteed growth, Competitive and employment in ports? Because among the aspects that is intended to be simplified, there is no mention of the concessions?"

And here the issue of the possible participation of private individuals arises to this elusive "publicly controlled company" to whom Rixi and the government would entrust the "management of the investments". Investment management, if participated by private individuals, will be an administrative management or a management politics? A hypothesis, the second, to make the hair stand on end to those who really care about safeguarding the foundations of the so-called Western civilization.

However, Uniport seems to appreciate the little it has learned. If 'strengthening governance at central level, coordination of the Port System Authorities and simplifications, are all objectives that, as an association of terminal operators and port companies, we share", for Pasquale Legora and Uniport is "shareable is also the intention of an enabling law that will define the mandate to the government to define in detail the changes to the legislation and the deadlines within which those amendments'.

So Uniport does not seem to care that the definition of the port reform is invoked to the Government: "the provision of implement the reform through an enabling law - says Pasquale Legora - leaves the government ample time to define its details, allows you to clarify all these aspects and doubts and, if there are it will be the will of the government itself (and in the first place of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of Infrastructure and of the Sea), to open a discussion with the representatives of the different stakeholders. Uniport is ready and available for this comparison, not only in the interest of the companies it represents, but also in the of the entire country-system".

Legora is right to ask itself if there will be the will of the government to open a discussion. Recent and past history says, however, that acts of decree are the main road increasingly traveled to avoid comparisons. And he also tells us that Publicly controlled companies are the way for those who are to the reins of the country to appropriate not only the power legislative power as well.

Bruno Bellio