The European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) published on Thursday 31 October its 10 strategic priorities for the European Union's maritime policy for the next 5 years.
It is climate that is set as "the top priority". "The industry is keen to work with its European and global partners to reach the goal set by the IMO (International Maritime Organisation) to cut CO2 emissions by at least 50% by 2050", said Martin Dorsman, ECSA Secretary General.
Nevertheless, with all due respect to those who defend "green protectionism", it would seem that there is no question of ECSA reducing international trade. The second and third priorities are trade and competitiveness, with the objective of "supporting the EU's free trade agenda and opposing growing commercial and maritime protectionism".
Other priorities include: the internal market, digitisation and innovation, human resources, safety, legal affairs, taxation and better regulation.
See the document detailing ECSA's 10 strategic priorities: https://bit.ly/2NswOjZ (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)