09/06/2017 (Agence Europe) – The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) gave a warm welcome on Thursday 8 June to the Transport Council conclusions on the priorities of EU maritime transport policy until 2020 (see EUROPE 11804). “The conclusions adopted today set out the right priorities and challenges: competitiveness, simplification and digitalisation, decarbonisation and the reduction of air emissions”, stated ECSA Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven. ECSA, indeed, believes that these priorities must be developed beyond 2020. European shipowners pledge to work with the EU institutions and stakeholders to achieve a raft of objectives on growth, keeping markets open and reducing CO2 emissions. (LT)