BPO Comprehensive Ports Group meets in Fredericia, Denmark

The Baltic Ports Organization’s (BPO) Comprehensive Ports Group gathered for the second time at the seat of the Associated Danish Ports in the Port of Fredericia, Denmark. The meeting was dedicated to identifying and discussing the main challenges and opportunities facing the comprehensive ports.

Participants discussed various tasks and issues to be tackled in the coming months and appointed Björn Boström, Managing Director at the Port of Ystad, as the CPG Chairman.

Topics discussed included the position of comprehensive ports in the TEN-T network, as well as a careful analysis of the state of the market and how it relates to the current situation of the comprehensive ports. Development of port infrastructure and difficulties in the process of acquisition of additional funding, e.g. through the funds available to the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), have also been discussed. The group also touched upon matters related to environmental regulations.

The aims of the Comprehensive Ports Group consist of the presentation of various view points to EU institutions, discussion of main topics and challenges, exchange of experience between port managers, organization of seminars and study visits and the initiation of multi-partner projects.

Björn Boström, the newly appointed CPG Chairman, said: ”The meeting was very fruitful, and the discussions show the complexity of being a Comprehensive Port within the EU-system. The group will now work together, focusing on the issues of future classification and roles of Comprehensive Ports.”

“Comprehensive port” term has been introduced by the TEN-T policy and defines a port connected to the TEN-T comprehensive network, representing significant passenger and goods traffic volumes. Comprehensive ports in the Baltic represent ca. 21% of the port market in the region. They are crucial for short sea shipping in the Baltic but also in the rest of European Union and facilitate trade between EU members.

There are about 76 comprehensive ports in the Baltic area. Therefore it is vital for the development of the region, that ports of all sizes enjoy a similar market and regulatory or policy conditions. Meeting the needs of comprehensive ports lies in EU’s best interest, as well as taking them into consideration when planning the future distribution of CEF funds.

The next meeting of the BPO Comprehensive Ports Group has been scheduled for the 6.9.2017 and will take place at the premises of the Port of Ystad, Sweden.