Commission launches EU Industrial Maritime and Ports Strategies to boost competitiveness across the maritime sector

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Today, the European Commission adopted a EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and a Ports Strategy to drive competitiveness, sustainability, decarbonisation, security and resilience within the EU’s wider waterborne sector. The Strategies focus on ports, shipping, and shipbuilding.

Europe is a waterborne continent, with the world’s largest collective maritime area. Its maritime manufacturing sector is a global leader in high-end shipbuilding and advanced technologies. Theshipping sectoris also a leading provider of maritime services worldwide, accounting for more than one third of global shipping tonnage across all segments.

EU Industrial Maritime Strategy boosts jobs, innovation and the EU’s global leadership in shipbuilding and shipping

The EU Industrial Maritime Strategy will strengthen Europe’s maritime leadership by a number of actions including launching an EU Industrial Maritime Value Chains Alliance. It is aimed at advancing high-tech shipbuilding, offshore wind support vessels, underwater drones, and cutting-edge port equipment. A ‘Shipyards of the Future’ R&I flagship call, under Horizon Europe, will also support the testing of innovative solutions in real-world shipyard environments, with the goal of scaling successful technologies across Europe.  To foster competitive shipping, the Commission will establish a dialogue with Member States to promote EU flags and streamline administrative formalities, includingthe monitoring, reporting and verification framework for EU ETS Maritime and FuelEU Maritime.

The Strategy will leverage public demand and funding to promote private investment in innovation and digitalisation of the EU shipbuilding, as well as the renewal and decarbonisation of the shipping fleet, including through the inclusion of targeted non-price criteria in the upcoming review of the public procurement directives.

The Strategy ensures fair global competition for EU shipyards and equipment manufacturers, reinforced through strengthened export financing and targeted trade policies, including a possible sector specific tool for the sector. Furthermore, it fully reflects the dual-use nature of the sector by integrating a strong military dimension, with specific actions including the ramp-up of naval industrial production capacities and the development of a dual-use ferry construction support mechanism. 

Finally, its measures enhance skills, training, and quality employment across the maritime sector, including re-skilling shipbuilding workers and seafarers to adopt new technologies and green operational practices.

EU Ports Strategy to ensure competitive, sustainable and safe ports

Ports are the backbone of Europe’s economy. They facilitate around 74% of external trade, handling more than 3.4 billion tonnes of goods and nearly 395 million passengers each year.

The EU’s ports are already evolving beyond their traditional roles, serving as hubs for new industry and innovation clusters. They also play a pivotal part in the EU’s energy supply, security, defence and blue economy.

To accelerate this transformation and ensure the competitive position of EU ports, the Commission will promote their innovation, digitalisation and integration with other transport infrastructure, develop guidance on foreign ownership of EU ports and for EU funding and investments in third-country ports. To advance EU ports’ clean energy transition, the Strategy presents measures promoting electrification and improved grid connection. It will also set out a roadmap for competitive small and medium-sized ports.

Ports are also crucial entry and exit points, making them prime targets for external threats and organised criminal groups. Building up on the EU Ports Alliance, the Commission will explore ways to further strengthen maritime security legislation to prevent drug trafficking, effectively address emerging threats and enhance EU supply chain security. Therefore, the Commission will propose frameworks for conducting port workers’ background checks and for assessing third-country ports. A new forum will be established to facilitate the exchange of best practices among Member State cybersecurity and port authorities. Furthermore,an EU-wide security risk assessment will be carried out to identify the most pressing cybersecurity risks and measures to mitigate them.

To ensure effective implementation of the Strategies, the Commission will establish a high-level Maritime Industries and Ports Board, chaired by the responsible Commissioner and Executive Vice-Presidents.

Background

The Strategies were announced as key initiatives in Commissioner Tzitzikostas’ Mission Letter and as flagship actions within the EU Competitiveness Compass and the European Ocean Pact. In July 2025, the Commission held two high-level Strategic Dialogues with industry stakeholders to discuss expectations for the Strategies. Similarly, stakeholder dialogues with European port CEOs in May 2025 and on port security in November 2025 fed into the Strategies.

For more information

Communication – EU Ports Strategy

Communication – EU Industrial Maritime Strategy

Questions and answers – EU Ports Strategy and EU Industrial Maritime Strategy

Factsheet – EU Ports Strategy

Factsheet – EU Industrial Maritime Strategy

News item – EU Ports Strategy

News item – EU Industrial Maritime Strategy

Webpage – EU Ports and Industrial Maritime Strategies