On 28 January the final Thematic Dialogue of the POSEIDON project brought together approximately 70 representatives, including Consortium partners, supporting partners — such as the Port of Venice, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and the Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy — public and private port sector stakeholders, and representatives from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME). The online meeting focused on the importance of strengthening cooperation between Europe and Latin America to combat corruption in the port sector.
During the discussion, emphasis was placed on joint anti-corruption efforts between the European Union and Latin American countries. Additionally, legal and policy frameworks related to anti-corruption policies were analysed, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption and various EU initiatives to combat corruption.
A key topic of the dialogue was the vulnerability of the maritime sector, which handles approximately 80% of Europe’s import-export volume. Despite its essential role in the global economy, the port sector is highly exposed to illicit activities, including drug trafficking. It was highlighted how these activitiesoperate beyond borders and rapidly adapt against enforcement measures, exploiting regulatory weaknesses and inadequate screening processes.
To address these challenges, the importance of collaboration between the maritime industry and law enforcement was emphasized, with a particular focus on information exchange and public-private partnerships.
Best Practices in Combating Corruption in Latin American Ports
The second part of the Thematic Dialogue examined effective measures and best practices implemented in Latin American ports to counter corruption, including:
- MACN’s Collective Action in Argentina: The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) successfully launched a stakeholder coalition to reduce inspector discretion through an anonymous reporting system and private surveillance. The initiative led to an 85% reduction in bribe claims, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors.
- Chilean Port System challenges: an overview of advanced security and surveillance measures implemented in Valparaíso Port was presented as key security tools to face issues related to drug trafficking and smuggling.
The final Thematic Dialogue of the POSIDON project reaffirmed the importance of an integrated and cooperative approach between Europe and Latin America to address port security threats and combat corruption, reinforcing dialogue and synergies between the public and private sectors at an international level.
