One in three euros invested by the European Union (EU) in port facilities, between 2000 and 2013, was devoted to projects doubling the existing capacity, concluded the European Court of Auditors (ECA).

"Neither the EU nor the Member States had a strategic vision set on what ports needed funding and for what, while funding for similar types of infrastructure in neighbouring ports has led to ineffective and unsustainable investments," says a report now disclosed.

The findings resulted from audits of a sample of 19 ports in Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland and Sweden.

Between 2000 and 2013, the EU co-funded maritime transport projects with 6.78 billion euros. Spain received 38.5% of those funds (2.6 billion euros).

In the same period, Portugal received 414.3 million euros.

The European Court of Auditors also criticised the EU funding to Tanger-Med’s port infrastructures, which compete directly with European terminals, and which benefited from very favourable conditions that even for these were not available.