Partner Article

MEP gains support in crusade against turnaround calls

Four MEPs have offered their support to North East MEP Martin Callanan’s calls to Europe to stop Liverpool using its publicly funded cruise terminal for turnaround calls.

Martin Callanan (North East), Daniel Hannan, Keith Taylor, Sharon Bowles (South East), and Struan Stevenson (Scotland) – have all signed the appeal to Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for Regional Policy, and Joaquín Almunia, Competition Commissioner, to withhold State Aid clearance from Liverpool until they repay all of a £10m grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

The MEPs signed the joint letter in a concerted effort to increase pressure on the European Commission.

When the terminal in Liverpool was built, it used £9 million from the UK Government and a £10 million European grant, on the premise that it would not compete for lucrative turnaround cruise business with privately funded operations at other UK ports.

Liverpool City Council have offered to repay the £9 million UK grant, and is now going ahead with plans to host turnaround cruises by granting permission for a temporary baggage handling and check in facility. Cruises are set to begin in May, despite the fact that the Government has yet to announce the results of an independent consultation on the proposal, and no decision in Europe has been made on the ERDF funding.

Commenting, Martin Callanan said: Martin Callanan MEP said: “Some very clear funding conditions were put in place so that other ports including the Port of Tyne, would not be unfairly disadvantaged.

“By going ahead with the turnaround terminal before State Aid clearance has been granted, it is perfectly clear that Liverpool City Council is breaching its funding conditions.

“I want to see the UK Government take a firm approach and ensure that all of the taxpayers’ money, including from the EU, is returned if Liverpool is to proceed, and I also urge the European Commission to enforce the condition of the EU grant. Anything less will set a very dangerous precedent.

Liverpool have yet to offer to repay the funds, which were offered on the same basis as money from the UK.

He added: “The North East has worked incredibly hard to build up its cruise industry and Liverpool must play by the rules they happily signed up to.

By ignoring them, Liverpool City Council is showing that I and others were absolutely right to protest and we will carry on doing so until we reach the only fair outcome.

“If they want the new turnaround terminal, they must hand back the public money in full, first.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .