Press release on the EU Ports Strategy

The European Commission today adopted the EU Ports Strategy , a comprehensive framework to step up the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of Europe’s ports .

Ports are a cornerstone of the EU economy, handling around 74% of external trade, 3.4 billion tonnes of goods and nearly 395 million passengers annually . They also support more than 423,000 direct jobs . As strategic gateways, ports underpin Europe’s trade, security and clean energy transition, while promoting growth, quality jobs and territorial cohesion for islands, coastal, arctic and outermost regions.

However, as ports evolve into multi-functional industrial hubs , they must expand capacity, decarbonise, digitalise, and reinforce security – simultaneously and at scale.

Bolstering EU ports will secure Europe’s strategic autonomy and critical supply chains , accelerate the clean energy transition and sustain global leadership in waterborne transport – while helping the EU achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

The Strategy puts forward actions focused on five priorities to address the most pressing challenges:

To ensure effective implementation, the Commission will establish a high-level Maritime Industries and Ports Board , chaired by the responsible Commissioner and EVPs.

Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas , said: "With our EU Ports and Industrial Maritime Strategies, we are equipping Europe’s ports, shipping and shipbuilding sectors to lead the clean energy transition, secure trade and defence, and remain globally competitive. They renew our ambition for European maritime leadership, reinforcing economic security, driving sustainable growth, and supporting quality jobs and territorial cohesion across Europe. Working hand in hand with industry and all relevant stakeholders, we will turn these Strategies into concrete results and anchor Europe as the leading waterborne continent."

Building on the 2013 Ports Policy, the EU is now setting a clear framework for the future of European ports. The EU Ports Strategy brings together existing and new initiatives, simplified procedures, provides guidance on implementing current legislation and offers recommendations to Member States and stakeholders.

The Ports Strategy is adopted together with the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy , boosting Europe’s shipbuilding and shipping industries.

It is one of the priority initiatives featured in the EU Competitiveness Compass , the European Ocean Pact , and PROTECT EU. Commissioner Tzitzikostas held strategic dialogues with key ports stakeholders in July and November 2025, to map their needs and expectations for the EU Ports Strategy.

EU Ports and Industrial Maritime Strategies

EIB Advisory and the European Commission support EU Ports Strategy through new capacity‑building programme for small and medium‑sized ports