Chapter 21 EU Port Policy: Implications for Port Governance in Europe

Abstract

This chapter analyses the consequences of the European Port Policy (EPP) for the ports in Europe. A series of European Union (EU) policy proposals aims to redefine both intra- and inter-port competition, in order to assist the adjustment of EU ports to the challenges of a complex environment. While the search for EU rules that would satisfy a sector of remarkably diverse structures continues, the analysis of the initiatives under discussion hints at contradictory potential impacts on port governance. Apart from the generated tensions between different levels of authorities, or the diverse demands of stakeholders, the risk is that each EU initiative may still pull the configuration of the environment–strategy–structure triangle into an alignment that does not enhance the performance of ports in Europe.