Commission launches EU Industrial Maritime and Ports Strategies

The European Commission adopted a EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and a Ports Strategy to drive competitiveness, sustainability, decarbonisation, security and resilience within the EU's wider waterborne sector. The Strategies focus on ports, shipping, and shipbuilding.

Europe is a waterborne continent, with the world's largest collective maritime area. Its maritime manufacturing sector is a global leader in high-end shipbuilding and advanced technologies. The shipping sector is also a leading provider of maritime services worldwide, accounting for more than one third of global shipping tonnage across all segments.

EU Industrial Maritime Strategy boosts jobs, innovation and the EU's global leadership in shipbuilding and shipping.

Innovative solutions to advance the industry

The EU Industrial Maritime Strategy will strengthen Europe's maritime leadership by a number of actions including launching an EU Industrial Maritime Value Chains Alliance. It is aimed at advancing high-tech shipbuilding, offshore wind support vessels, underwater drones, and cutting-edge port equipment. A 'Shipyards of the Future' R&I flagship call, under Horizon Europe, will also support the testing of innovative solutions in real-world shipyard environments, with the goal of scaling successful technologies across Europe. To foster competitive shipping, the Commission will establish a dialogue with Member States to promote EU flags and streamline administrative formalities, including the monitoring, reporting and verification framework for EU ETS Maritime and FuelEU Maritime.

The Strategy ensures fair global competition for EU shipyards and equipment manufacturers, reinforced through strengthened export financing and targeted trade policies, including a possible sector specific tool for the sector. Furthermore, it fully reflects the dual-use nature of the sector by integrating a strong military dimension, with specific actions including the ramp-up of naval industrial production capacities and the development of a dual-use ferry construction support mechanism.

Finally, its measures enhance skills, training, and quality employment across the maritime sector, including re-skilling shipbuilding workers and seafarers to adopt new technologies and green operational practices.

EU Ports Strategy to ensure competitive, sustainable and safe ports

Ports are the backbone of Europe's economy. They facilitate around 74% of external trade, handling more than 3.4 billion tonnes of goods and nearly 395 million passengers each year.

The EU's ports are already evolving beyond their traditional roles, serving as hubs for new industry and innovation clusters. They also play a pivotal part in the EU's energy supply, security, defence and blue economy.

To accelerate this transformation and ensure the competitive position of EU ports, the Commission will promote their innovation, digitalisation and integration with other transport infrastructure, develop guidance on foreign ownership of EU ports and for EU funding and investments in third-country ports. To advance EU ports' clean energy transition, the Strategy presents measures promoting electrification and improved grid connection. It will also set out a roadmap for competitive small and medium-sized ports.

Further strengthening maritime security

Ports are also crucial entry and exit points, making them prime targets for external threats and organised criminal groups. Building up on the EU Ports Alliance, the Commission will explore ways to further strengthen maritime security legislation to prevent drug trafficking, effectively address emerging threats and enhance EU supply chain security. Therefore, the Commission will propose frameworks for conducting port workers' background checks and for assessing third-country ports. A new forum will be established to facilitate the exchange of best practices among Member State cybersecurity and port authorities. Furthermore, an EU-wide security risk assessment will be carried out to identify the most pressing cybersecurity risks and measures to mitigate them.

To ensure effective implementation of the Strategies, the Commission will establish a high-level Maritime Industries and Ports Board, chaired by the responsible Commissioner and Executive Vice-Presidents.

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