Malta to host seminar on facilitation of European maritime commerce

The seminar will take place on 23 May at Europa House in St Paul’s Street, Valletta. The seminar will focus reducing the administrative burdens for shipping companies, by simplifying and harmonising the documentary and physical checks conducted on ships and goods moving between EU ports.

Maritime transport must comply with complex administrative procedures concerning reporting formalities, even when it relates to navigation between EU ports and when the cargo consists of goods in free circulation in the EU.

These procedures, result in costs and delays and could make maritime transport less attractive. To this end, the European Commission published, in January 2009, a proposal to amend Directive 2002/6/EC. After discussions at the EU level, Directive 2010/65/EU on reporting formalities for ships arriving in and/or departing from ports of the EU Member States was adopted in October 2010. This Directive will be transposed into Maltese law by May 19, 2012.

Speakers for the seminar include MSPC Chairman Charles Abela, Jukka Savo from the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, and Lucienne Meilak, Director EU Affairs – Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Telecommunications (MITC).

The Malta Shortsea Promotion Centre was launched in November 2006 with the aim of establishing itself as the focal point for promoting and improving multimodal transport initiatives in Malta, and enhance the transport sector contribution to the local economy and Malta’s cohesion with Europe and its neighbours. MSPC also aims to be the central source for the collation and dissemination of information, knowledge and education on Shortsea activity in Malta. For more information and to register for the seminar visit http://www.shortsea.org.mt or send an email [email protected].