European Commission’s Ninth Report on Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion

Symbolic picture by Dimitrisvetsikas1969 on Pixabay

The European Commission released its 9th cohesiveness Report on March 27 to analyse Union cohesiveness.

Since its founding, the EU has promoted solidarity, equality, and integration. This is why the Treaty of Rome aimed to “reducing the differences existing between the various regions and the backwardness of the less-favoured regions.” The EU’s 1957 Treaty of Rome mandated economic coherence, which remains relevant today.

The 2004 enlargement shows Cohesion Policy’s success. 20 years after the 2004 enlargement, EU Cohesion Policy has led to impressive convergence. Central and Eastern Europe’s per-capita income rose from 52% of the EU average in 2004 to roughly 80% presently. Their unemployment rate reduced from 13% to 4%.

Cohesion Policy has helped EU economic, employment, and social indicators improve in this difficult environment. Cohesion Policy helps public investment. The strategy represents roughly 13% of EU government investment and 51% in less developed Member States from 2014 to 2020. These investments have enhanced the European growth model, boosting economic growth in line with major policy priorities like the twin transition, innovation, business, and skills, childcare, education, and health, and natural catastrophe prevention. Challenges, unfulfilled potential, and poverty exist in every place.

Demographic trends will impact all regions in the coming decades. Regions must adapt to a dwindling workforce and ageing population. Rural and less populated areas have greater obstacles. The digital shift and climate change may worsen EU regional imbalances.

The full report can be found on the European Commission’s webpage.

Source:

https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information-sources/cohesion-report_en

Duisport and Swiss Rhine Ports continue digitilisation efforts

Symbolic picture by Pixler on Pixabay

The Swiss Rhine ports and Duisport are introducing an innovative Port Community System (PCS) to improve data exchange with inland shipping. Basel will implement the PCS by the end of 2024 and Duisburg by mid-2025. The already created „RiverPorts Planning and Information System“ (RPIS) advances Rhine logistics digitalization.

The required Port Community System (PCS) for all Basel and Duisburg handling operations and shipping businesses is a major step towards digital port infrastructure modernization. The consistent digitalization of communication and information flows will simplify port processes, improve shipping traffic handling, and optimise logistics chain cooperation from port operators to freight forwarders.

The RiverPorts Planning and Information System (RPIS) is being continuously developed to create a multi-port system for inland waterway transit with efficient or barrier-free data connections to seaports. This connection streamlines Rhine port communication and standardises data use along supply chains with inland ports. Port introduction provides a foundation for connecting modules including berth management, electricity and water procurement, customs processing, rail transit, and passenger shipping.

The end-to-end digitalization of port communication and data flows began with the progressive adoption of RPIS as an obligatory Port Community System (PCS) in the Swiss Rhine ports by the end of 2024 and at Duisburger Hafen AG in the first half of 2025. Port industry companies will link to the system with RheinPorts during the year and go from test to live. Container transport companies and terminal operators in Basel use RPIS successfully. Long-term, the effort intends to build the networked, digital infrastructure that encompasses the Rhine logistics chain and beyond. This will boost port performance and spur industry-wide digital process improvements.

Source(in German): 

https://port-of-switzerland.ch/einfuehrung-port-community-system-in-basel-und-duisburg/