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On 20 March, CLECAT participated in the European Shipping Summit in Brussels. The event brought together key stakeholders from the maritime industry, policymakers, and environmental experts to discuss the future of shipping in Europe, focusing on its competitiveness, resilience and addressing its energy transition.

Commissioner for Sustainable Transport Apostolos Tzitzikostas opened the conference by delivering a strong message on the risks of economic protectionism as artificial trade barriers and excessive red tape will only drive-up costs for consumers. He noted the upcoming Commission initiatives to reinforce the European shipping sector, including the Maritime Industrial Strategy and the European Ports Strategy to make key infrastructure resilient and fit for the decarbonisation of the sector. Mr Tzitzikostas emphasised the need to make shipping more attractive to skilled workers and provide better working conditions to seafarers. Finally, he reaffirmed the commitment from the Commission to reach an agreement at IMO over global decarbonisation measures for shipping and channel financial resources towards the production of use of sustainable marine fuels.

In a first panel, Paul Krugman, Nobel Laureate and economist underscored that trade wars are rarely won. He warned of the dangers of deteriorating trade policies, tariffs and the potential for retaliation in an era of shifting global alliances. However, as a glimmer of hope he noted that the EU is resourceful and resilient and this plays to Europe’s strengths.

In a keynote speech, Søren Toft, CEO of MSC, strongly emphasised the need to review ETS once an IMO solution has been found, as it could lead to jobs and investments leaving Europe, while the emissions we send into the atmosphere remain exactly the same.  He called for further policy support to produce alternative fuels at global scale, noting that the Clean Industrial Deal could help restoring decarbonisation and competitiveness of the shipping industry. Other speakers in a panel on the energy transition called on EU national governments to reinvest ETS revenues generated by the shipping sector to bridge the costs gap between clean and conventional fuels, and to provide measures aimed at leveraging private financing opportunities to develop sustainable marine fuel production capacity.