The Commission launches the EU Maritime and Port Industrial Strategies

The European Commission has adopted an EU Maritime Industrial Strategy and a Ports Strategyto boost competitiveness, sustainability, decarbonisation, safety and resiliencein the EU’s maritime sector. These strategies focus on ports, maritime transport and shipbuilding.

Europe is a maritime continent, with the largest maritime area in the world. Its shipbuilding sector is a world leader in the construction of high-end vessels and advanced technologies. Theshipping sectoris also a leading global provider of maritime services, accounting for more than a third of global shipping tonnage across all segments.

The EU Maritime Industrial Strategy drives employment, innovation and the EU’s global leadership in shipbuilding and maritime transport.

Innovative solutions to boost the industry

The EU Maritime Industrial Strategy will strengthen European maritime leadership through various actions, including the creation of an EU Maritime Industrial Value Chains Alliance. Its aim is to boost high-tech shipbuilding, offshore wind support vessels, underwater drones and state-of-the-art port equipment. The flagship R&D call‘Shipyards of the Future’, under Horizon Europe, will also support the testing of innovative solutions in real shipyard environments, with a view to rolling out successful technologies acrossEurope. To boost the competitiveness of maritime transport, the Commission will engage in dialogue with Member States to promote EU flags and simplify administrative procedures,includingthe monitoring, reporting and verification framework for the EU Maritime ETS and FuelEU Maritime.

The Strategy ensures fair global competition for EU shipyards and equipment manufacturers, reinforced by increased export financing and targeted trade policies, including a possible sectoral instrument tailored to the sector’s needs. Furthermore, it fully reflects the dual-use nature of the sector by integrating a robust military dimension, with specific actions including increasing industrial naval production capacity and developing a support mechanism for the construction of dual-use ferries. 

Finally, its measures enhance skills, training and quality employment across the maritime sector, including the reskilling of shipbuilding workers and seafarers to adopt new technologies and sustainable operational practices.

EU Strategy for Competitive, Sustainable and Safe Ports.

Ports are the backbone of the European economy. They facilitate around 74% of foreign trade, handling over 3.4 billion tonnes of goods and nearly 395 million passengers each year.

EU ports are already evolving beyond their traditional roles, serving as hubs for new industrial and innovation clusters. Furthermore, they play a vital role in the EU’s energy supply, security, defence and blue economy.

To accelerate this transformation and ensure the competitiveness of EU ports, the Commission will promote their innovation, digitalisation and integration with other transport infrastructure, and will draw up guidelines on foreign ownership of EU ports and on EU funding and investment in third-country ports. To drive the clean energy transition of EU ports, the Strategy sets out measures to promoteelectrification and improved connection to the electricity grid. It will also establish a roadmap for the competitiveness of small and medium-sized ports.

Further strengthening maritime safety

Ports are crucial entry and exit points, making them prime targets for external threats and organised criminal groups. Building 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 improve the security of EU supply chains. To this end, the Commission will propose frameworks for the vetting of port workers and the assessment of third-country ports. A new forum will be established to facilitate the exchange of best practices between Member States’ port and cybersecurity authorities. In addition,an EU-wide security risk assessment will be carried out to identify the most pressing cybersecurity risks and measures to mitigate them.

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

More information: European Commission.