The Ukrainian Sea Ports Association (USPA) says it has received the status of observer of the European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO).
May 30 to June 1, USPA will take part in the annual ESPO conference and work of the ESPO technical committees.
“The entry of the USPA into ESPO is an important step in Ukraine’s integration into international transport infrastructure. Ukraine is now officially part of the European port community. In addition, membership in the ESPO will enable us to adopt the best European practices of port operations. This step is also important from the point of view of implementation of the roadmap on the implementation of EU regulatory documents in the field of maritime transport, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine”, said Raivis Veckagans, head of USPA.
As Ukraine is not an EU member state, USPA joins ESPO with observer status.
This means that USPA receives the right to delegate one of its representatives to the ESPO General Assembly, to attend and participate in the work of all technical committees, to have access to the ESPO ‘s internal database with the latest information on EU policies, in the field of investments and grants, as well as the opportunity for individual requests for information through the Secretary-General of the Organization.
The European Sea Ports Organisation is the principal interface between European seaports and the European institutions and its policy makers.
ESPO represents the port authorities, port associations and port administrations of the seaports of 23 Member States of the European Union and Norway at EU political level. ESPO also has observer members in Iceland and Israel.