Gathered for the General Assembly held in Brussels on the 7th December 2016, FEPORT members have formally endorsed the content of the White Paper "2017, 2018 and beyond” which expresses their expectations to policy makers.

The document was handed out to the Transport Commissioner, Ms. Violeta Bulc, on the 8th December at the beginning of the Second Stakeholders’ Conference organised by FEPORT in Brussels.

Since many years, private port operators have been contributing to the modernisation of European ports and massively investing to accommodate their clients’ expectations on the seaside and landside.

Today, private port operators are facing big challenges.

Time has come for the EU and Member States to acknowledge the role of the private sector and to adopt a real enabling framework for private investors. Private port operators cannot continue to invest if the returns from investing in and operating terminals are not sufficient and if the rules applicable to port investments are constantly reinterpreted.

"Private port operators are ready to continue to invest but they need a clear and stable framework including fair and transparent governance rules and a real protection from risks of distortion of competition” commented Mr. Gunther Bonz, FEPORT President.

"Taking risks is part of our business but this should not add up to other risks deriving from a non-stable and non-consistent regulatory framework. If the burden of constraints becomes too heavy, then private investment in ports and beyond will be postponed to the detriment of the European transport sectors” continued FEPORT President.

"We are confident that the European Commission and Member States will hear our call as it is a legitimate request that will benefit not only to private port operators but also to the whole maritime logistics chain” concluded Mr. Gunther Bonz.