EU: New Strategy to Support European Ports

Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, presented the new European strategies for ports, shipping, and the shipbuilding industry in Brussels.

The strategies aim to enhance the competitiveness, sustainability, safety, and resilience of EU maritime transport, especially in the face of increasing global competition, the energy transition, and security risks.

Mr. Tzitzikostas emphasized that the new European port strategy supports EU ports in five ways: strengthening competitiveness, innovation, and digitization; enhancing protection and security; promoting energy transition and sustainability; strengthening social cohesion, skills, and quality jobs; and facilitating access to finance and investment.

He also highlighted the strategic importance of shipping, especially in light of the hostilities in the Middle East, and the need to address distortions in the global shipbuilding industry.

Ships carry three-quarters of the EU's imports and exports, and account for 30% of freight transport within the EU. Ports support more than 423,000 direct jobs in the EU.

The new EU industrial maritime strategy aims to strengthen Europe's shipping and shipbuilding industries, with three main pillars: strengthening EU maritime manufacturing capabilities, enhancing the competitiveness and sustainability of shipping, and strengthening the capabilities of dual-use shipping infrastructure.