The ETS and insularity. These are the two factors that most negatively impact Sardinia's port system, according to the Authority's president, Domenico Bagalà, speaking at the XXVII Euromed Convention organized by the Grimaldi Group at Forte Village in Pula.
"From a geopolitical perspective, the system has held up extremely well," he stated, "but its resilience is being severely tested with regard to the ETS." On an island, he noted, "its impact affects 100 percent of goods; in any other region in Italy or around the world, it doesn't exceed 30 percent."
In short, "an intolerable and devastating impact, which demonstrates the illogicality of this system and distorts objective competition." Bagalà offers an example: "A ship coming from Mumbai and transshipping to Cagliari pays 50% of the ETS on the first leg; if the same container from Cagliari is shipped to the United States, it pays another half of the ETS. But if it transships to Tangier, it pays zero." This is why I am requesting an ETS exemption for islands. As for insularity, "the principle is enshrined in the Constitution, but it remains a sterile concept."
Grimaldi Group CEO Emanuele Grimaldi opened the conference. Regarding Sardinia in particular, he stated: "We will continue to ensure efficient maritime connections between the island and the mainland, including through the Naples-Cagliari-Palermo and Civitavecchia-Arbatax-Cagliari routes, which were recently re-entrusted to us under territorial continuity for the next five years. We are an integral part of this region, where we ensure the transport of goods, support the mobility of residents, and contribute to the development of the tourism sector. A network of efficient maritime connections is vital for Sardinia."