Written question asked by Bernard Jenkin (Conservative) on Thursday, 17 March 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 March 2016 (named day). It was answered by Robert Goodwill (Conservative) on Tuesday, 22 March 2016 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Ports: EU Action

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether it is the Government's policy that the EU Ports Services Regulation should be subject to the 12-month review procedure to assess its conformity with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality agreed between the Prime Minister and the EU and that no further action should be taken to progress that regulation until that review has taken place.

Answer: As part of the settlement secured by the Prime Minister, the European Commission has committed to establish in the future a mechanism to review existing EU legislation for its compliance with the principle of subsidiarity and proportionality. This is an important shift in how the EU operates. Negotiations on the EU Port Services Regulation (PSR) are ongoing and I am committed to defending the UK’s successful ports and to opposing any amendments that would damage the efficiency and competitiveness of our ports sector.

Secondary information