The European Commission has published the EU Ports Strategy. The strategy outlines the actions of the European Union in strengthening the operating conditions of the port sector in response to geopolitical and trade policy challenges.
“From the perspective of the Finnish Ports Association, the strategy is a coherent document focusing on the right issues. We are particularly pleased that the strategy places the competitiveness of ports at the forefront, recognises the ports’ multifaceted role and supports ports in clean transition,” comments Piia Karjalainen, CEO of the Finnish Ports Association.
In particular, the Finnish Ports Association welcomes the following policy actions highlighted in the Commission’s strategy:
- The Commission encourages Member States to allocate revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System to support investments in the clean transition of maritime transport
- The strategy recognises the challenges related to lengthy permitting processes and the barriers they create for port investments and innovation, and commits to streamlining them
- The strategy addresses security challenges by creating common procedures, facilitating the sharing of best practices, and supporting ports in strengthening cybersecurity with new tools
- The Commission will address the challenges and opportunities of inland waterways and inland ports through a separate programme for 2028–2034
- The Commission highlights the need to strengthen the involvement of European stakeholders in the standardisation of the port sector
- The strategy also sets out principles for the allocation of financing.
The strategy includes the following focus areas:
- strengthen competitiveness, innovation & digitalisation
- advance energy transition, sustainability & clean industries
- protect & secure ports
- access to finance & investment
- social cohesion, skills & quality jobs
“The Commission’s preparatory work clearly reflects a genuine willingness to develop the strategy together with stakeholders in the sector. The strategy also recognises and creates conditions and tools particularly also for small and medium-sized ports,” Karjalainen adds.
The full strategy is available here.
