The Spanish government has insisted that “currently” privatization of the national ports authority, Puertos del Estado, is not on its agenda, although concedes that it has been in talks with some industrial groups in respect of possible public-private partnerships. Previously, questions were asked in Parliament about a possible policy of totally or partially privatizing the ports, as well as transferring
stevedoring activities to outside operators, along with all other port activities . In July 2012, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had publicly stated that he wanted to see the “liberalization”, or even “privatization”, of services associated with transport, in which he included ports.
The European Union is similarly looking at possible market deregulation in this area.
BC