The European Commission has become too powerful, and the principle of ever closer union should be scrapped, according to a survey of industry leaders released yesterday.
The survey of 100 senior UK shipping and ports executives found that whilst 80% believed the UK should remain in the EU, 68% felt the European Commission had too much power and 64% believed that the EU's founding principle of 'ever closer union'should be scrapped.
And in a show of support for the Prime Minister, 67% of respondents claimed Mr Cameron was right to renegotiate the terms of the UK's relationship with the European Union.
Jeffrey Evans, Chairman of Maritime UK who conducted the survey, said:
"It seems clear that the industry wants to be in Europe, but change is required for the benefit of the UK and indeed all European nations. There is no doubt that the single market has been of significant importance to the UK's maritime services and the industry supports it, but the sea of regulation coming from Brussels is often unnecessary and at times damaging.
"The shipping industry is globally regulated through the UN's International Maritime Organization. This regime provides the international industry with a global level playing field, but when the EU gets involved it can put that level playing field at risk and damage competitiveness. Given the UK is a major maritime power, we are disproportionately affected.
The survey found that 69% of respondents said that the European shipping industry should principally be regulated through IMO, whilst just 16% said the EU should assume responsibility.
-
Company DirectoryFreight RateExport RateAgency PartnershipCargo Leads