Representatives of the port authorities of Rijeka and Trieste signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday in Trieste, which will serve as the basis for strengthening and implementing the prerequisites for the creation of a unique port area in the Northern Adriatic.
The marketing department of the Rijeka Port Authority announced on the occasion of the signing of this agreement that cross-border cooperation between Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy in the Euroregion Northern Adriatic is a key factor in the progress of Northern Adriatic ports and the overall economy.
"The importance of cooperation is even more pronounced considering that the total transshipment capacities of all Northern Adriatic ports are less than the capacity of just one larger Northern European port, such as Hamburg, Antwerp, Bremen, or Rotterdam. If the Northern Adriatic port system wants to compete with the solutions that shipping cargo and spaces have in Northern Europe, it is necessary to achieve cooperation and consolidation of capacities," the statement said.
The Rijeka Port Authority emphasized that the fundamental prerequisite for cooperation is mutual technological, organizational, tariff, economic, and transport equality and real competitiveness. Possible points of cooperation among the three ports include harmonization of transport infrastructure, coordination of joint promotional and marketing activities, information connectivity and standardization of documents, and the introduction and application of a unified quality system in all ports in the Northern Adriatic area.
Possible points of cooperation also include harmonization of port customs, alignment of maritime and customs tariffs, tax systems, and administrative procedures with the regulations and practices of the European Union, as well as cooperation in the field of security, the Rijeka Port Authority announced. (Hina)
