Europe’s competitiveness in the global economy depends increasingly on an efficient and cost effective
transport and port system. In the EU, Ports are becoming no different from any other multi-product
industry offering a range of services and operating under different environments and organizational
structures. Many port infrastructures and services are owned or managed by the private sector. In spite of
the lack of standardization and homogeneity in ports, the European Commission is keen to adopt a
common approach to pricing in ports. Therefore, a European Commission White Paper (1998) suggests
the application of marginal social cost pricing taking into account externalities such as cost of accidents
and environmental and congestion costs. The purpose of this paper is to show the recent changes in the
port industry and to investigate the issue of port pricing in theory and the possible application of marginal
social cost pricing in European seaports.
