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5 March 2026 On 4th March, the European Commission launched its EU Ports Strategy, a 28-page document aimed at providing a framework for the future of European ports. Europe's ports welcome the Strategy, which recognises the vital role ports are playing for Europe's economy and society and departs from a good understanding of the changing and complex role of ports as well as the challenges this role implies. The Commission seems to acknowledge very well that, more than ever, ports need to combine their role as competitive trade hubs with their tasks as public service providers for the resilience of Europe's economy and society. Based on this understanding, the Commission underlines the diversity of ports, which calls for a broad and flexible approach, which ESPO highly welcomes. "We welcome the EU Ports Strategy as a good starting point for further discussion with the Commission, the Parliament and the Council. We need an EU Ports Strategy that equips, that does not restrain. The Strategy can support us in achieving our ambition to increase the current 23 percent of the port calls worldwide taking place in European ports. We are very thankful for the dialogue with the Commission so far. On many issues we share the same concerns as the Commission, but we also see that on some topics we will need a further dialogue. We welcome in that respect the proposal to set up a high-level EU Ports Board to continue the constructive exchange with the sector", says Ansis Zeltiņš, Chair of ESPO. "The EU Ports Strategy is based on a good understanding of what ports are, what they can do, what they cannot do, what they face, and what is needed. The document shows that the policy is there and the focus should be on implementing this. Ports have their hands full with navigating through the geopolitical volatility the world is going through. Strengthening the competitiveness of ports, giving ports the flexibility to adapt to sudden changes and shocks, and support them in their public tasks are the best way to build resilience," adds Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO's Secretary General. Looking at the different pillars of the Strategy, it very rightly highlights the importance of maintaining the global competitiveness of Europe's ports and engages to work on reviewing the EU ETS and FuelEU maritime and reducing the proven negative impact of the current EU ETS maritime on European ports. ESPO also welcomes the Commission's plaidoyer for supporting Europe's ports in their investments, taking into account the investment estimates made in the ESPO investment study from 2024. Next to the funding necessary to support the many investments, the Strategy rightly highlights the need to further work on the easing and speeding up of permitting procedures to realise important investments in Europe's ports and their industrial clusters. The Commission's openness towards reviewing the thresholds as part of the upcoming review of the General Block Exemption Regulation is equally important in that perspective. The creation of a specific forum where Member States' cybersecurity authorities and port authorities can work together with the Commission to assist ports in facing cyber security risks can also count on the full support of Europe's ports. 
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissionner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, ESPO Conference 2025, Thessaloniki. Image by European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Yet, while ESPO understands that guidance can help in understanding how horizontal legislation should be interpreted when applied to the port sector, it must not lead to adding an extra layer of criteria and conditions only applicable to ports to the already agreed legislative framework. Moreover, at a time where Europe is questioning extensive reporting obligations, ESPO believes that mapping exercises should be limited to the cases where it really matters. Such mapping and reporting obligations imply lots of efforts from the Member States, which at the end of the day, may come on the plates of ports. Finally, ESPO sees a need to intensify the dialogue with the Commission and the relevant stakeholders on explaining how the decarbonisation of shipping can be encouraged and realised, how the bunkering market can adapt, and what the role of ports is and can be, in view of avoiding false expectations and/or stranded assets. ESPO wants to thank the Commission for their openness to discussion and exchange so far. ESPO and its members will be analysing the EU Ports Strategy in further detail in the coming weeks and remain committed to work constructively with the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council going forward, with the aim to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of Europe's ports to the benefit of Europe's economy and society. European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) press release 
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