EU rules are not to blame for Port of Liverpool delay, says North West Euro MP

Liverpool Labour Euro MP and Chair of the European Parliament's Transport Committee Brian Simpson has today welcomed a response from European Commission officials to a recent question concerning the Port of Liverpool.

Campaigners who support the changes, which would see cruises starting and finishing at the historic Port of Liverpool, have been led to believe for considerable time that the strict rules surrounding the use of European grants would quash Liverpool's attempt on the basis of strict EU competition rules.

Brian Simpson and Arlene McCarthy, Labour MEPs for the North West and strong supporters of the city's plans, questioned the European Commission in Brussels on whether any EU state aid rules were rightly to blame.

"Today (Tuesday 25th January) the European Commission has responded to say that they have not been made aware of any issue with EU state aids within the Port of Liverpool either by the UK Government or any other UK port. The UK Government has not sought clarification in regard to the cruise terminal. Therefore the issue of state aids at this time does not exist as far as the European Commission is concerned", said Mr Simpson in Brussels this afternoon.

"Attempts to blame the EU amount to little more than scaremongering to protect near-monopolistic positions at other ports", added Mr Simpson.