Relaunch of Italian port system at risk from EU tax claim, Federation says

Rome, Italy (Ports Europe) April 19, 2018 - Federazione del mare (Federation of the Sea) has said that recent claims by the EU Competition Authority (DG Comp) that Italian ports should pay taxes is a threat to the recovery of the recently reorganised port system, and would actually make the port less competitive. The Federation fears strongly negative consequences on the capacities of the national industry as Italy is a manufacturing country with few raw materials, an economy of transformation that is mostly supplied by sea from abroad and whose products are often exported overseas. Italy imports 200 million tons of goods through the ports and exports 70 million tons (Eurostat 2016). Added to this is the internal maritime transport of goods, which is around 95 million tonnes. In total, 480 million tons of goods pass annually: 180 million of liquid goods, 70 million tons of solid bulk cargoes, 220 million of miscellaneous goods (of which, 95 million tonnes on rolling stock and 120 million in containers ). This includes fossil energy sources, such as crude oil and gas, and goods that directly affect the country's manufacturing output: refined petroleum products, metal artifacts, agricultural products and food, minerals, chemicals and plastic and rubber products, building materials, wood and paper, high value-added products such as equipment and machinery. Domestic and international tourism plays and will play more and more a key role in Italian development: today the movement of passengers in Italian ports exceeds 45 million, of which 11 million are cruise passengers. It cannot escape, concludes the Federation, that, for an economy so integrated in international maritime activities, such as the Italian one, and for a country with a strong insular dimension, increases in port costs would have completely negative consequences. on price trends and growth. For this reason, the maritime cluster asks the Government for a careful political evaluation of the issue and an adequate reaction. The Federation of the Sea, which is the Italian maritime cluster, represents many Italian maritime interests including: AIDIM (maritime law), ANCIP (port work), ANIA (insurance), ASSOPORTI (port administration), ASSONAVE (shipbuilding), ASSORIMORCHIATORI (port towing), COLLEGIO CAPITANI (maritime staff), CETENA (naval research), CONFITARMA (merchant shipping), FEDERAGENTI (agency and maritime intermediation), FEDEPILOTI (piloting),FEDERPESCA(fishing boat), FEDESPEDI (international transport), INAIL/exIPSEMA (maritime pension), RINA (certification and classification) and UCINA (pleasure boating). Source: Il Messaggero Copyright (C) Ports Europe. All Rights Reserved. 2018.

Relaunch of Italian port system at risk from EU tax claim, Federation says

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Relaunch of Italian port system at risk from EU tax claim, Federation says

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All news

Three drug busts in Spain in a week – 6.3 tonnes of hashish, 7.5 tonnes cocaine

3.5 tonnes of cocaine seized in Portugal’s Setubal port

7 tonnes of cocaine delivered by speedboats seized in Spain

Military funding for the third Bulgaria-Romania Danube bridge

FESCO handled 617,000 TEUs (+18%) in 2024

Our Expert Analysis

Latest Free Reads

Top Ports