On 23 May 2013, Siim Kallas, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Transport, gave a press conference on the upgrade for 300 key European seaports. During this press conference Siim Kallas unveiled an initiative to improve port operations and onward transport connections at key seaports along Europe’s coastline. The guidelines and legal changes being proposed will help port operators upgrade their services and facilities, and give them more financial autonomy.