The association also denounces delays in the appointment of the presidents of the AdSP
Regarding the increase in concession fees, threatening another wave of appeals, the Italian Port Terminal Operators Association (Assiterminal) announced that it will propose to the General Directorate for Ports and Intermodality of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to express itself while preserving the content solely for the year 2023 of the Lazio Regional Administrative Court (TAR) ruling at the beginning of the year, which had annulled the application of the Istat increase in fees (of January 3, 2025), thus offering a mediation that the association considers fair and sustainable both for concessionaires and for the Port System Authorities.
In a note, Assiterminal pointed out that the recent Infrastructure decree-law, in force since last July, «regarding the aspects impacting the port sector, reminds us of that saying: the rule on concession fees “self-proclaims,” improperly, as an interpretative rule, which certainly cannot have the purpose of “overturning” jurisdictional power, i.e., the res judicata established by the TAR Lazio ruling; otherwise, it would potentially open a season of appeals along the lines of 2023, or perhaps worse.»
Referring to the text of the decree-law, the association of port terminal operators also noted that «the provisions on waiting or dwell times in favor of road transport, while commendable for protecting a category often at the mercy of clients who undervalue their work through low-bid contracts, introduce a confusing series of steps functional to measuring waiting times, implicating the shipper-terminal operator in responsibilities hardly attributable to them.» In this regard, Assiterminal announced that it will soon propose «an interpretative circular to the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to avoid chaos; otherwise—the association warned—another season of litigation is foreseen.»
The association, however, expressed willingness to engage in discussions, under the Ministry’s guidance, with all stakeholders, also recalling «that the measure introduced by the rule should eliminate the port or congestion fees recently requested at the local level by some road transport entities. On this issue as well—Assiterminal emphasized—the need for national oversight is evident to avoid tariff distortions between ports and increases on goods, which add to those due to the fallout of geopolitical dynamics, certainly not optimizing the Italian logistics system.»
Furthermore, Assiterminal recalled having already criticized «yet another missed opportunity to activate the Fund for the Early Retirement of Port Workers: the reason is unclear, unless perhaps—the association observed—it lies hidden in the methods being used to complete the appointments of the /commissioners of the AdSP with yet another postponement, currently to July 30.» «We trust—the association caustically noted—that the same method will not be used to identify the general secretaries, who should be freely chosen by their respective presidents.»
