Abstract
The European Union policy on territorial cohesion requires strong cooperation among stakeholders at various levels and the island transport policy dictates a need for technical consultation among all interested parties, encompassing all specific aspects (equal opportunities, insularity, geographical isolation, low population density, insufficiency of local markets potential and so on) of the economic and social cohesion. In order to achieve a consensus with regard to the transport services provided for every island in terms of quantity, quality and cost, a maximum level of transparency and objectivity must be ensured. To that effect, stakeholders should be involved in the selection and adaptation of the qualitative and quantitative specifications to be included in any given transport service agreement. This article aims at interrelating the island insularity issue to public service obligations (PSOs) by discussing a ‘contracting process’ implementation for the development of public service contracts. Moreover, transport service specifications for island regions are also discussed in the light of their deployment in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs), Private Financing Initiatives (PFIs) and Local Authority Ventures for the realization of PSOs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Becker, J.F.F., Burgess, A. and Henstra, D.A. (2004) No need for speed in short sea shipping. Maritime Economics & Logistics 6: 236–251.
Chatziefstathiou, M., Spilanis, I. and Charalambous, A. (2005) Sustainable Development of Island Regions and the Role of Aquaculture. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference for Environmental Management, Policy and Technology, Nicosia, Cyprus.
Chlomoudis, C. et al (2009) Essential Terms Agreement Guide for Island Transport Services. Athens, Greece: Institution of Local Authorities. Report.
COM/2003/0595, Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on the interpretation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) EC, Brussels/Luxembourg.
Council Regulation (EEC) No 3577/92 of December 1992 applying the principle of freedom to provide services to maritime transport within Member States (maritime cabotage) [Official Journal L 364 of 12 December 1992], EC, Brussels/Luxembourg.
DIRECTIVE 2004/18/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on the coordination of procedures for the award of public works contracts, public supply contracts and public service contracts, EC, Brussels /Luxembourg.
European Commission. (2008a) Guidelines for unified approach to maritime policy: aiming for the adoption of the best available practices with regard to a unified maritime government policy and the consultation of the agencies involved. [COM(2008) 395 final], EC, Brussels/Luxembourg.
European Commission. (2008b) Green paper on territorial cohesion: Turning territorial diversity into strength. [SEC(2008)2550], EC, Brussels/Luxembourg.
Eurisles. (1997) Statistical indicators of regional disparities caused by insularity and ultra-peripherality. European Islands System of Links and Exchanges (Eurisles). Ed. Eurisles, 10/1997.
Henry, C. (1997) Public service and competition in the European Union. IAER 3 (3): 255–268.
Kizos, T. (2007) Island lifestyles in the Aegean islands, Greece: Heaven in summer, hell in winter? In: H. Palang, H. Sooväli and A. Printsmann (eds.) Seasonal Landscapes. Berlin: Springer, pp. 127–149.
Kizos, T., Spilanis, I. and Pralakidis, S. (2005) Attractiveness and less favored areas: The case of Lesvos. Geographies 10: 80–107.
Malachy Walsh and Partners In association with Posford Haskoning, Raymond Burke Consulting, McCaig Watson and Seosamh Mac Donnacha. (2004) Review of Certain Subsidised Ferry Services to the Islands. Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Rigas, K. (2009) Boat or airplane? Passengers’ perceptions of transport services to islands. The example of the Greek domestic leisure market. Journal of Transportation Geography 17: 396–401.
Smith, P. (1990) The use of performance indicators in the public sector. Journal of the Royal Statistical Soc A 153(Part 1): 53–72.
Spilanis, I., Kizos, T., Koulouri, M., Kondyli, J., Vakoufaris, H. and Gatsis, I. (2009) Monitoring sustainability in insular areas. Ecological Indicators 9: 179–187.
Spilanis, I., Spiridonidis, E. and Misailidis, N. (2002) Accessibility of the Aegean Islands: Real and virtual distance. Paper presented in the 7th Greek National Cartography Conference, 24–26 October 2002, Island Cartography, Mitilini.
Stanley, J. and van de Velde, D. (2008) Risk and reward in public service contracting. Research in Transportation Economics 22: 20–25.
Urrutia, B. (2006) The EU regulatory action in the shipping sector: A historical perspective. Maritime Economics & Logistics 8: 202–221.
van de Velde, D. (2008) A new regulation for the European public transport. Research in Transportation Economics 22: 78–84.
Williams, G. and Pagliari, R. (2004) A comparative analysis of the application and use of public service obligations in air transport within the EU. Transport Policy 11 (1): 55–66.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chlomoudis, C., Kostagiolas, P., Papadimitriou, S. et al. A European perspective on public service obligations for island transport services. Marit Econ Logist 13, 342–354 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1057/mel.2011.9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/mel.2011.9