1. Eurostat contribution
IMSF - Annual meeting
Eurostat contribution
New Orleans, 4-6 May 2009

2. Some selected issues Report from last 2008 Eurostat Task Force
Eurostat publications
Recent political initiatives

3. Task Force maritime transport statistics – 23 Oct 2008
Geographical information on ports
Development of an integrated socio-economic database to support the EU maritime policy
Integration of trade and transport statistics
Cooperation with others institutions and organisations
Work achieved by the Task Force so far
Statistics on Ro-Ro and containers
Centralised vessel database

4. Geographical information on ports
Development of a port model (representation on local map, establishment of hinterland connections…)
Need of precise and accurate information regarding the ports and their coordinates
The geographical coordinates will be added to the list of ports
Eurostat could provide Member States with map and spatial analysis indicators

5. Development of an integrated socio-economic database to support the EU maritime policy
Improvement of a socio-economic database useful for EU maritime policy
Review of relevant data already available at Eurostat
Deeper investigation into data needs and potential data sources for future further developments
Priority to the use of existing data

6. Integration of international trade and transport statistics
Presentation from Statistics Netherlands of an interesting study on the integration of international trade and transport statistics
Good example of making better use of statistics already available without adding any extra burden on respondents

7. Cooperation with other institutions and organisations
Eurostat considers that it is very important to continue cooperating with other organisations (ESPO, EMSA, ECSA, UNECE,…)
Eurostat will continue following the developments by ESPO regarding the Ro-Ro unit
Cooperation with EMSA will go on on various statistical matters

8. Work achieved by the Task Force
Some decisions have been taken by technical committees ( TF / WG / CCST ) concerning changes in data collection:
Some imply changes in legal acts
Some only imply methodological clarification

9. Statistics on Ro-Ro and containers
Proposal to harmonise the data collection of “Ro-Ro containers”
Collection of limited additional information on the number and the size of Ro-Ro containers when relevant/significant ( voluntary basis)

10. Centralised vessel database
Results on tests made on the use of a centralised vessel database
The creation of a centralised vessel database is an important objective: work and reflections should continue
Necessary to put together information from several sources

11. Some selected issues Report from last 2008 Eurostat Task Force
Eurostat publications
Recent political initiatives

12. Eurostat publications
Statistics in focus
“Maritime transport of goods and passengers ” (published 30 January 2009)
“Maritime transport of goods and passengers ” (planned for December 2009)
Data in focus
“Maritime transport of goods 1st quarter 2007” (published 13 June 2008)
“Maritime transport of goods 1st quarter 2008” (published 19 February 2009)
“Maritime transport of goods 2nd quarter 2008” (incl. est. Q3) (published 28 April 2009)
“Maritime transport of goods 3rd quarter 2008” (incl. est. Q4) (planned for June-July 2009)
Impact of crisis  “Flash Estimates” ?
Eurostat web site just re-structured

13. Some selected issues Report from last 2008 Eurostat Task Force
Eurostat publications
Recent political initiatives

14. Recent political initiatives
January 2009: The European Commission: - adopted an action plan aimed at creating a maritime transport space without barriers in Europe. This plan includes several legislative measures, including a proposal aimed at simplifying administrative formalities based on Community regulations and recommendations to Member States for reducing the administrative burden imposed on shipping companies. - presented a Communication on Strategic goals and recommendations for the European Union’s maritime transport policy
To be developed during 2009: “e-maritime” initiative. The need to facilitate transport by sea by reaching a level of fully IT-based communications, including to enhance electronic data transmission, on the basis of existing or established systems, through the development of e-Maritime systems and single electronic window solutions.
April 2009: The Council of the EU supported all these initiatives of the European Commission.

15. Thank you for your attention!