Financial hangover looms for Belgian ports after removal of favourable regime

The current decision by European Competition Commissioner Margarethe Vestager, is not entirely unexpected. Back in July 2014, the Commission called Belgium and France to task over their port tax regime. The Commission considered that the exemption gives ports a selective advantage in violation of EU state aid rules. This is because they do not serve a clear objective of general interest, such as promoting mobility or multimodal transport, the Commission believes.