At a ‘Transport’ Council in Luxembourg, on Monday 8 June, the Member States of the European Union adopted two sets of draft conclusions on the EU Ports Strategy and the Maritime Industrial Strategy.
Ports Strategy. On the investment strand, the Council welcomed the European Commission proposal on the assessment of foreign investments in EU ports. As regards maritime security and military mobility, the Council conclusions remain close to the draft presented by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council last April (see EUROPE 13846/3).
On decarbonisation, however, the Council advocates increased support for onshore power supply (OPS), electrification and better grid integration. While encouraging the use of the ‘ETS’ greenhouse gas emissions trading system to support the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, Member States express concern about its effects on the competitiveness of European ports.
See the draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/lij
Maritime Industrial Strategy. In its conclusions, the Council recalls that the European shipbuilding and maritime transport industries are facing global competition, geopolitical tensions, strategic dependence on production in third countries, and a persistent labour shortage.
Moreover, the Member States call for education and training in the maritime sector to be strengthened, in line with the objectives of the ‘Lefkosia Declaration’ (see EUROPE 13859/3).
See the draft conclusions: https://aeur.eu/f/m87 (Original version in French by Juliette Verdes)