After having facilitated the shape of Europe’s ports policy (Stockholm 2006 / Algeciras 2007) and discussing its implementation regarding governance (Hamburg 2008) and infrastructure networks (Marseilles 2009), the ESPO 2010 Conference will explore the human face of the port sector. This theme covers a broad range of topics associated with the 2007 EU Ports Policy Communication, including the port image, city-port dialogue, training and education as well as living and working conditions.

The ESPO 2010 Conference will bring these issues together under the theme “Living and working with ports”. The programme will feature a number of hands-on workshops covering communication skills, training and educational partnerships, management of change and the untapped potential of port tourism and recreation. Societal integration is still very much a new area for many port managers, comparable to what environmental management used to be fifteen years ago. This is why ESPO is not only giving out an Award in this field but also supports the port co-operation project “People around Ports” which was launched in April 2009. This project will lead to a new ESPO Code of Practice that will be officially presented in Helsinki and which is hoped to play the same pioneering role as the first ESPO Environmental Code of Practice back in 1994.

>> For more information and registration visit http://www.espo.be