Regulation and Finance in the Spanish Port Sector

Abstract

After providing a brief overview of the main characteristics of the Spanish port system, the present chapter discusses the Spanish governance model, which has followed the European-wide trend in recent decades towards greater decentralisation of port management, greater autonomy for ports and greater liberalisation of the services provided by agents involved in port-related activity. This is followed by a presentation of the port system’s financial tools and their link to governance models and national legislation, and the Spanish experience with public-private collaboration is discussed. The chapter finishes with a description of some of the main challenges facing the Spanish port system and some recent proposals for reform.