The author analyzes the transport policies of the European Union. Section V, part lII of the European Union Treaty (articles 70-80) defines the responsibilities ofmember states in terms of introducing a common transport policy. The regulations of this section mainly apply to rail, road, and internal waterway transport. The regulations of section VI, part III of the European Union Treaty (articles 81-97) are addressed to all states in the world whose economic activities distort or threaten to distort competition in the European Union. The establishment and development of a transeuropean transport, telecommunications, and energy network (articles 154-156) constitute the central element in an economic zone without internal borders. The contemporary economy is a result of two trends: a process of globalization and a process of regionalization. The principle of subsiduarity plays a major role in the process of regionalization. It filters through to the idea of the ,,Europe of Regions." In essence, states transfer their responsibilities and authority via the Union to regions. The Union only retains those responsibilities and authority that are essential to its functioning. Remaining rights should be transferred downwards, to the level ,,as near as possible to the citizen." The Union implements the principle of the decentralization of power. Matters connected with the financing of the traditional sector of the maritime economy will depend on the appropriate formulation of the ,,voivodeship contracts" that will soon be concluded by the Council ofMinisters and voivodeship assemblies. The assemblies will have the most influence on the way in which European Union structural funds can be used.

The Author tries to “think out of the box”, presenting “Sponsalia ex hoc mundo” (“Hand fastening out of this world”). The title reflects the view that the outer space sciences and the sea sciences are analytically separable, but practically interlinked. It might be observed in the context of space technology and satellite technics, a new system of management and government, as well as a new system of law and policy. Nowadays, the outer space infrastructure (the use of artificial Earth satellites for Direct Television Broadcasting, communications, remote sensing, navigation, military missiles) affects infrastructure of our Planet, including maritime infrastructure. There is, therefore, the need for a new face of integrated system of science and practice.

After the historic changes in 1989, there began a process of creating companies with their own capital. In the course of time they have been commercialised and privatised. An observation of the changes that have occurred in the world economy argues in favour of a process of combining companies with their own capital, above all in the areas of shipbuilding and of seaports. Fragmented economic entities should strengthen their position in the international market in order to meet competition. Polish law has not yet regulated issues connected the creation of a business consortium or with its functioning. In the European Union, there is also still a lack of complex regulation of the law relating to consortia. The author proposes the creation ofmaritime consortia on the eastern and western seaboards of Poland with a view to adapting the Polish economy to the demands of international competition.

Contemporary economic policy is a result of two opposed methods of influencing the market: the liberal and the protectionist. The philosophy of the open market was created with the participation of the judges of the European Court of Justice. The following are usually seen as belonging to the general principles of international economic law: the free will of the parties to an economic transaction; pacta sunt servanda; and arbitration in the case of international economic disputes. However, the general character of the principle of economic freedom is questioned by some authorities. The Codifying Commission of Maritime Law should consider the entirety oflegal problems connected with maritime shipyards, with sea transport, and port services. It should aim at developing a unified concept in the area of business activity and services, the freedom of labor and the freedom of services. The division of rules governing international sea transport (which are inevitably based on international models) and those governing coastal transport (in which economic freedom in the sense applicable in processes of European integration does not apply) is confused. Such a division has to be seen as a legacy of a by-gone era and as interference on the part of administrative law in legal relations connected with coastal transport. In Poland there is no up-to-date public service sector against which anti-monopoly regulations could not be enforced. In their place, subvention law regulations should be applied. Without distinguishing, for example, life-saving and chemical clean-up operations as public sector elements, it will be difficult to achieve expected economic goals.