European Seaports Law:
EU Law of Ports and Port Services and the Ports Package (Antwerp Maritime
Law Series)
by Eric Van Hooydonk
In 2001, the
European Commission published its so-called Ports Package, a first attempt at
developing a European policy for seaports. The Ports Package includes a
Directive on Market Access to Port Services, which will influence the port
industry thoroughly and lead to fundamental changes in daily port operations.
In this volume, academics as well as practising lawyers from France, Ireland,
Italy and Belgium describe the legal framework for the several branches of the
port sector, recalling the far-reaching practical implications of existing
general EU law and discussing the latest versions of the Port Services
Directive proposal. Completed by authoritative views from the head of the
Commission's ports unit, a specialist MEP, and representatives from both the
public and the private port sector, this book offers a fairly complete overview
of existing port law as well as the main points of concern in the policy
debate. Its purpose is to serve both as a policy background document and as a
working tool for public and private port players, as well as for academics and
lawyers.