The erosion of public support for seaports has only recently been recognised as an issue that needs attention from port management. Competition for land use, negative externalities of port operations as well as safety and security concerns have over the last few decades contributed to a negative public image of many ports. This has been reinforced by the fact that ports in many cases moved out of sight of citizens. Ports are at best acknowledged as a necessary evil, but more often the general public and policy makers alike ignore the fundamental contributions ports make to the economy and society. The result is that ports often stand alone, without allies, when they run into opposition to their development.
Embracing co-habitation and dialogue with cities and local communities is for many port authorities a difficult learning process since it often seems to be a distraction from the commercial rationale of port operations. Moreover the distance between ports and cities has in many cases been widened through processes of globalisation and corporatisation of port authorities.
ESPO is convinced that the economic function of ports can only be sustained in the longer run if the societal function is taken seriously. The European Commission has also recognised the need to establish better dialogue between ports and cities as a priority area in both its maritime and ports policies. It is in this context that ESPO has taken the initiative to give out an annual Award to promote innovative projects of European port authorities that develop co-operative synergies with cities, improve the quality and accessibility of port areas and generally promote a positive image of the port as a place to experience, live and work.
Based on the success of the first edition of the ESPO Award on Societal Integration, a new edition was launched on 4 January 2010. Interested port authorities are invited to carefully read the terms of reference and send in their project proposal by means of the application form below. As from this year only one project proposal per port is possible. All applications should be sent in by 4 June 2010. The winner of the ESPO 2010 Award will be announced in November.
Meer informatie en relevante documenten op http://www.espo.be/pages/events.aspx?EventID=95381
