| ESPO meets with cruise port organisations in view of strengthening the voice of the European Cruise and Ferry port sector in Brussels

Today, the European Sea Ports Organisation gathered with the relevant European cruise port organisations in Barcelona and decided to enhance the cooperation between the different organisations representing Cruise Ports.

Following the strategic cooperation agreement signed by ESPO, Cruise Baltic, Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway and MedCruise today, the organisations decided that:

• ESPO will intensify its efforts as the official voice of the European Cruise and Ferry Port sector towards the European institutions.
• A Cruise and Passenger port network would be set up within ESPO that would bring together Cruise Baltic, Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway and MedCruise and representatives of Cruise and Ferry port authorities. The network is to be seen as the continuation of the ESPO passenger committee. This network will meet regularly to discuss the latest developments at EU policy level relevant to the Cruise and Ferry Port sector and will define which interests should be defended.
• ESPO will engage when needed in a constructive debate with the associations representing cruise lines and other stakeholders involved in the cruise or ferry sector and investigate potential collaborative synergies.
• ESPO will develop a Code of Good Practice for EU cruise and ferry ports together with Cruise Baltic, Cruise Europe, Cruise Norway and MedCruise. The network will build on the work of the ESPO passenger committee towards this direction and will bring this a step further using the expertise of the participating cruise associations.

SOURCE    European Sea Ports Organisation