Activities of Johan VAN OVERTVELDT related to 2023/2059(INI)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on building a comprehensive European port strategy
Amendments (29)
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas non-EU entities have strategically increased their stakes in European ports, terminals, companies and port infrastructure;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas ports are a highly complex environment with many different stakeholders and many different interests, making recognizing and assessing the risks of foreign influence an arduous but crucial exercise;
Amendment 85 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls on the Commission to present an EU strategic policy framework to reduce and limit influence and operational control by non-EU countries in the EU’s ports and, in their processes and hinterland operations as well as to limit direct stakes in the port authority;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Stresses that despite the existence of protective mechanisms at EU level, such as the screening of foreign direct investments and competition rules, these instruments are insufficient for addressing the increasing economic strength of external powers through individual companies and depend heavily on implementation by individual Member States; notes that some Member States do not yet have such measures in place, which could undermine the level playing field as well as counteract the working of foreign direct investment rules at the European level;
Amendment 110 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Strongly encourages the Commission to strengthen the role of the protective measures for ports in the revision of the Foreign Direct Investments regulation, as this is still to be considered as the main tool against influence by state-owned entities;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Underlines the importance of increasing EU cooperation in screening and blocking inbound investments in critical infrastructures, where major negative impacts on other Member States or the whole EU cannot be excluded;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to research and assess the impact of vertical integration in maritime logistics, the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation and the formation of container alliances on non-EU country influence in EU ports; consider that, given the CBER is due to expire in 2024, the Commission should take into account the changes this brings for competition in the maritime sector and the safeguarding of the level playing field;
Amendment 143 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Suggests that all Member States introduce laws to retake control of ports, terminals and other maritime infrastructure and develop contingency plans for a major conflict scenario; highlights repeated warnings by intelligence agencies against the risks of economic dependence, espionage and sabotage caused by the economic presence of entities from non-EU countries in our critical infrastructure and strategic sectors, such as ports;
Amendment 146 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Considers that logistics are a highly digital and just-in-time complex operation and therefore asks to limit and monitor the access of foreign state-owned entities to port operations and information;
Amendment 147 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 b (new)
Paragraph 10 b (new)
10b. Calls on Member States to set up a proper screening regime on foreign ownership based on the sharing of best practices and the inclusion of a risk assessment for the wider EU-impact of foreign ownership; requests this to be done urgently as increased stakes by foreign entities occur most likely in Member States without such policy or an insufficient one;
Amendment 148 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 c (new)
Paragraph 10 c (new)
10c. Stresses that the goal of this report is not to repel foreign investments as such, but to limit harmful side-effects foreign investments might bring with them, with state-owned foreign entities being the usual suspects;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Emphasises that a high level of cybersecurity of all actors in our ports is crucial to prevent espionage and severe disruptions of port systems and operations; considers that the risk of negative spill- over effects from a lack of cybersecurity from one port to another is high and that therefore high standards should be maintained by all Member States and that the sharing of best practices and experiences should be recommended;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Considers that cyber threats and the disruption of our economic fabric is all too often too easy and that exposing weaknesses in the cybersecurity of ports and addressing these is of the utmost importance; points out that the risk of cyber threats has increased significantly in the last few years and that this should not be considered as only a secondary issue;
Amendment 170 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Stresses that although an increased digitalisation heavily contributes to an efficient working environment, the competitiveness and the sustainability of ports, this also adds to the risk of a cyber threat; considers that the more a system relies on digital tools, the more vulnerable it is to cyber threats; believes that as the benefits of further digitalisation outweigh these risks, the only solution is to strengthen the resilience of European ports to cyber threats;
Amendment 175 #
15. Underlines that EU ports are key entry points for illicit drugs and cillicit drugs are increasingly being introduced into Member States through ports, having an effect on society as a whole and undermining the safety of ports, adjacent cities and its citizens; Calls on the Commission to present measures for effective European cooperation to combat drug trafficking, extraction and criminal subversion;
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Amendment 181 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 b (new)
Paragraph 15 b (new)
15b. Stresses that in the fight against drugs trafficking, EU ports should be able to work closely with law enforcement and have access to the necessary digital tools given a necessary and sufficient legal justification;
Amendment 182 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 c (new)
Paragraph 15 c (new)
15c. Considers that, given the role ports play as critical infrastructure, cooperation with all entities and governments involved in safeguarding security is paramount; calls for a European Port Strategy to provide a framework that allows ports to fulfill their security tasks to the fullest;
Amendment 190 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Stresses that currently the EU is dependent on China for its energy transition because of the large amount of critical raw materials needed for infrastructure contributing to this shift; supports the incentive given by the Commission in the form of Critical Raw Materials Act to change the status quo;
Amendment 195 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 b (new)
Paragraph 16 b (new)
16b. Underlines that ports play a crucial role in the energy transition and as distribution hubs for renewable energies such as hydrogen, and that this will only increase given the importance of energy self-sufficiency of Member States;
Amendment 204 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Calls on the Commission to address the increasing need for investments in ports and terminals and their infrastructure so that they can assume their role in the energy transition;
Amendment 220 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 a (new)
Paragraph 18 a (new)
18a. Stresses the risk of carbon and business leakage to third-country ports; considers that EU ports often play a pioneering role in the energy transition and take risks when making big investments in the energy transition;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 18 b (new)
Paragraph 18 b (new)
18b. Recalls that on-shore power supply plays a vital role for the electrification of ports, and entails high investment risks without financial support by the Commission and Member States;
Amendment 249 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Calls on the Commission to analyse and address the investment needs of ports in order for them to beremain competitive in the future and to work towards a more stable investment climate including transparency and predictability in investment assessments, both public and private;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Recalls that inland waterways play a vital role in the European transport system, providing a sustainable and efficient mode of transport for goods and people; therefore stresses that inlands waterways should not be left out of scope for a potential European Port Strategy.
Amendment 280 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Calls on the Commission to stimulate programmes for innovation and further port digitalisation, such as smart ports programmes, with a view to improving the efficiency, productivity and, sustainability of ports and further expansion of cybersecurity infrastructure;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Underlines the importance of private investments in ports and that companies are the ones providing employment and innovation in and around ports;
Amendment 284 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 b (new)
Paragraph 26 b (new)
26b. Underlines that in order to maintain the competitiveness of EU ports and the functioning of a possible European Port Strategy, excessive administrative burden should be avoided as this could undermine the working of such a strategy;stresses that ports already face a lot of red tape and that increasing this further threatens to defeat the purpose of creating a European Port Strategy in the first place;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 c (new)
Paragraph 26 c (new)
26c. Stresses that a European Port Strategy should not be a protectionist measure and should maintain the competitiveness of ports as a main priority;