European Port Policy
European Port Policy
European Port Policy
Port reform: World Bank publishes the third edition of its port reform toolkit
The World Bank published the third edition of the Port Reform Toolkit - highlighting, among others the transformation of ports in recent years and the emerging issues to address. The enhanced Port Reform Toolkit 3.0 begins by analysing global trends and their impact on ports. Module 2 introduces concepts of change management. Then, in eight substantive modules, we explore port governance, privatisation, regulation, finance, and labour arrangements, followed by new modules that are now at the core of future-proofing ports:...
European Port Policy
Investments and financing challenges of the EU’s port managing bodies; findings from a comprehensive survey
The ‘port managing body (PMB)’ plays a central role in the development of the port. Public funding for investment projects of the port managing bodies is common in the EU and most other countries.PortEconomics member Peter de Langen adds to the body of knowledge on port investments and financing challenges with an analysis of data from two surveys that were carried in 2018 and 2023.This analysis yields the following conclusions. First, the PMBs in the EU have shifted their investments, in response to changing investment drivers. The...
European Port Policy
GREPORT2024: Report on Greek Ports
PortEconomics membes George Vaggelas and Thanos Pallis have published the 2024 edition of the Report on Greek Ports-GREPORT 2024. The 5th edition of the report that is publised since 2016 every two years contains data and analysis of the Greek port system. In the several sections of the report, the reader will find analysis on➡️ Cargo throughput and passenger/cruise traffic evolution - with details of short and long term trends.➡️ Investments, per port and aggregate trends➡️ Financial Analysis of the 13 Ports Operating as...
European Port Policy
Social license to operate: determining social acceptance among local port community stakeholders
In the study titled Social License to Operate: Factors Determining Social Acceptance Among Local Port Community Stakeholders, PortEconomics member Michaël Dooms, along with Bruno Moeremans, explore the increasingly crucial issue of social acceptance of port activities. While vital to economic development, ports often face opposition from local communities due to their environmental and social impacts. This paper presents a hypothesized model that links community perceptions of port impacts, including economic, environmental, and social...
European Port Policy
A new conception of port governance under climate change
In their latest paper, Jason Monios, Gordon Wilmsmeier - together with Gustavo Andres Martínez Tello, and Lara Pomaska -explore the evolving landscape of port governance in the context of climate change. Titled A New Conception of Port Governance Under Climate Change and published in the Journal of Transport Geography, the study argues that the complexities of climate change demand reevaluating how ports are managed. The authors highlight the increasingly polycentric nature of port governance, driven by the need for both mitigation and...
European Port Policy
Investment in European ports, challenges and opportunities from a circular economy perspective
by Peter W. de Langen In line with their “Memorandum for the European Elections”, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) recently published the “Port Investment Study 2024”, as an update of the ESPO 2018 study. This study shows that the changing and wider role of ports, comes with new and wider responsibilities and investment needs. Dr. Peter de Langen assisted ESPO with the survey, analyzed the responses, and co-authored the final report. Circular Flanders asked Dr. Peter de Langen to also reflect on the investments of...
European Port Policy
A case for ‘energy management services’ by the port development company?
By PortEconomics member and Port Strategy Analyst, Peter de Langen In April 2024, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) launched the results of a study on the investment pipeline and investment challenges of European ports. The report concludes that PMBs in the EU have an investment pipeline of about 80 billion in the next 10 years and yields a couple of interesting additional insights that merit some more reflection. The central one in this contribution is the potential role of the PDC (port development company) in...
European Port Policy