MEMBER STATES ENDORSE COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS ON A EUROPEAN PORTS STRATEGY
Yesterday, EU Transport Ministers have approved Council conclusions on a EU Ports Strategy, reaffirming the strategic importance of ports for Europe's competitiveness, resilience, security, and energy transition. The conclusions follow the European Commission’s Ports Strategy presented in March 2026 and set out priorities for its implementation.
Member States recognise that ports are increasingly evolving into multi-functional hubs that support trade, energy supply, industrial development, military mobility, and economic security. The Council therefore calls for measures to strengthen the competitiveness of EU ports, address unfair competition, and ensure that investment screening remains proportionate while safeguarding critical infrastructure.
The conclusions also highlight the need to enhance port security and resilience against threats such as organised crime, cyberattacks, and hybrid threats, while accelerating digitalisation and the deployment of clean energy infrastructure. Member States further acknowledge concerns regarding the impact of climate legislation, including the EU ETS, on the competitiveness of EU ports and invite the Commission to continue monitoring risks such as traffic diversion and carbon leakage.
The Council also stresses the importance of adequate funding, workforce development and skills training to support the sector’s transformation. The Commission is now invited to work with Member States and stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the strategy and maintain Europe's leading position in global maritime transport.
CLECAT welcomes the Council conclusions and the progress made towards a comprehensive EU Ports Strategy that recognises ports as strategic assets for Europe's competitiveness, security, and energy transition. In particular, CLECAT appreciates the Council's recognition of the growing concerns regarding the impact of the EU ETS on the competitiveness of EU ports and the risks of traffic diversion, carbon leakage and investment relocation. CLECAT therefore supports the Council's call for continued monitoring and, where necessary, targeted corrective measures, while also underlining the importance of alignment with global developments at IMO level to avoid market distortions and double regulatory burdens.
CLECAT will join the 11th Commission Expert Group "European Ports Forum" on 19 June 2026, which will provide stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss the implementation of the EU Ports Strategy and exchange views on the challenges facing the sector. The meeting will also feature a presentation of the forthcoming EU Industrial Maritime Strategy, reflecting the Commission's broader ambition to strengthen Europe's maritime industrial base and reinforce the competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability of maritime supply chains. CLECAT looks forward to contributing to these discussions and ensuring that the role of freight forwarders and logistics service providers is fully recognised in the development of future port and maritime policies.