The EU Will Open the Maritime Transport Market in Two Years
The maritime conference system, which organizes since more than a century ago the sea cargo transportation worldwide, is living on borrowed time in Europe. The EU plans so, determined to cut the privileges that some shipping companies have for setting prices, limit the offer, and operate on the fringes of the free market criteria that the Union Treaty enforces. Fifteen days ago, the Competitiveness and Internal Market Council urged the Commission to reinforce the regulations and inspect if the shipping companies comply certain aspects of competence rules, and has given two years for a full liberalization of the sector. “The European economy will benefit from cheaper maritime transportation and from more competitive exports”, said the Irish Charlie McCreevy, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services.
The maritime conference operates since 1870 and is made up by ship-owner associations that share a shipping line and block the entrance of other operators, agreeing on the minimum charter fee for their routes and imposing fines to partners that break the agreements.
The maritime conference operates since 1870 and is made up by ship-owner associations that share a shipping line and block the entrance of other operators, agreeing on the minimum charter fee for their routes and imposing fines to partners that break the agreements.