Zentralverband der deutschen Seehafenbetriebe (ZDS), The Association of German Port Operators, has urged the government institutions to adopt an incisive port policy to enable national airports to respond to global crises and to meet the major challenges of the ongoing transformation in ports. In this sense, the association has high expectations in the next National Port Strategy currently being definition by the federal government.

"The port sector - explained the president of the ZDS, Angela Titzrath - is extremely important for the Country. From a national point of view, it is an essential pillar of German industry and exports. The decline in demand for consumers and the consequent decline in industrial production They often demonstrate in the first instance in ports. A look at the ports shows that we are facing mainly global problems. However, this phase of weakness economic affects our industry at the wrong time. We manage important transformation processes, especially in digitalisation and automation, as well as Shift to climate-friendly activities. We are facing to an important phase of these transformation processes, but also to new tasks for ports, especially for supply energy'.

Among the requests made by ZDS is that of significantly increase the resources allocated to the equalisation fund for ports, resources that for two decades have been limited to 38 million euro, a figure considered, if not negligible, far too much Small. "In this regard," Titzrath stressed, "it is A swift agreement on equalisation for ports is essential. If This minimum goal is not achieved, it is difficult imagine how a national port strategy can meet the needs of the expectations'.