In the run-up to the European elections in June, the Association of European ports highlighted which issues should be addressed at EU level over the next five years in order to allow ports to play, in addition to their traditional role as multimodal centres in the supply chain, those of hubs strategic partners and facilitators of Europe's ambitions and its sustainable, digital, competitive, cohesive and social future.

In a memorandum entitled "A zero-emission Europe" smart, resilient and competitive: Europe's ports are part of the solution", the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) lists nine priorities, starting with the request to the policy makers to provide clarity and support to ports to ensure the effective implementation of existing legislation. At it context, inconsistencies or policies should be addressed and ports should be allowed to have the right to space needed to take on the role of facilitators of the transition to renewable energy. In particular, by highlighting whereas the energy transition will require availability areas in ports, the association urges the removal of barriers and the consideration of ports when develop energy policies, circular economy and energy strategies. carbon. ESPO also calls for financial support for riskier pioneering energy investments.

For the association, the European Union should then allow prioritise green investment where this is the case. makes more sense in terms of reducing emissions, and should safeguard a level playing field between ports both in the context of the internal market and in relation to ports close to Europe. In this regard, ESPO urges the EU to adopt a 'competitiveness check' decision-making processes, including ensuring equality access to and conditions to finance, avoiding approaches to divergent national countries.

Specifying that ports are an important pillar of the sovereignty of the European supply chain and that the ports are in favour of a more harmonised approach to address foreign influence on ports, ESPO points out that, However, Europe must continue to be an attractive market in investment and that EU security measures should not be stop trade, but only make it safer.

Other issues that, in ESPO's opinion, must be priority are that of further measures needed to strengthen cybersecurity and to make progress digitalisation and the creation of a solid Financing Support Instrument for Ports, which - recalls the THE ASSOCIATION - In the next ten years they need 80 billion of investments in euros.

In addition, it is imperative for ESPO to adopt a more integrated when developing new policies, with a transport sector, and in particular ports, which do not can be considered as stand-alone. To this end, In this regard, ESPO highlights the need for more close cooperation between the Commission's Directorates-General being indispensable, in order to deal with the complexity of the of today's challenges, a continuous, transparent and open dialogue between EU stakeholders and policymakers.

Finally, the association calls for effective collaboration between stakeholders in order to attract new businesses and ports and port cities, as ports cannot perform their role without the right staff to meet new challenges.