Clecat and Feport demand fairness from EU
On behalf of numerous of European freight forwarders, port companies and terminals, the associations Clecat and Feport both call upon the European Commission to avoid market distortions in the EU and unbundle the activities eligible for favourable tax treatment under tonnage tax schemes. The call follows last week’s decision of the European Commission, clearing the Italian maritime industry state aid.
The special tax regime will not only be applied to a shipping company’s core revenues from shipping activities, such as cargo and passenger transport, but equally to certain ancillary revenues that are closely connected to shipping activities.
Lamia Kerdjoudj-Belkaid, secretary general of Feport, noted: "The privilege granted to the shipping companies, allowing them to benefit from preferential tax treatment for their cargo handling activities, distorts competition between integrated terminals and independent ones. We believe that it is the role of the Commission to clarify the rules to avoid risks of distorting competition and to ensure a level playing field." (mw)