Today, the European Commission has adopted two strategies that have the objective of promoting competitiveness, sustainability, the safety and resilience of the maritime transport sector by intervening in the port, maritime and transport sectors shipbuilding.

The Ports Strategy proposes actions focusing on five priorities to address the most pressing challenges, with the before it aims to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and digitization. To this end, the Commission, to improve coherence and coordination, develop Criteria and guiding principles for financing and investment in third-country ports. It will also develop criteria and guidelines on foreign ownership and control, focusing on ports identified as infrastructure civil and military dual-use strategic strategies, and will support the digital and green transformation by promoting innovation, the expansion and adoption of innovative technologies.

The second priority is the promotion of energy, sustainability and industrial transition clean. The Commission has announced that it will accelerate the the issuance of authorisations and provide procedures for faster assessment for strategic port projects in and that the forthcoming Action Plan for Energy and Environment electrification will support the electrification of ports, access to the grid and the deployment of clean energy. In addition, Partnerships will be promoted for energy cooperation in the port areas and surrounding areas for sustainable use including hydrogen.

The third priority aims to protect and put in place security ports. In particular, the existing guidelines, taking into account emerging and promoting a global level playing field for the security of EU ports. To combat drug trafficking, building on the work of the European public-private partnership Ports Alliance, the Commission will set up frameworks for assessments of third country ports and for the control of criminal records of port workers. In addition, the Commission will establish a forum for the exchange of good practices between the port and IT security authorities of the States and a security risk assessment at the to identify the most urgent risks and measures to appropriate to mitigate them.

The fourth priority action concerns access to finance and investments. The Commission announced that, on the basis of the on existing EU funding instruments, including the Connecting Europe Facility, funding for cohesion and InvestEU, will support ports with principles of funding to improve coordination and the efficiency of EU funding. In addition, it will facilitate access to counselling services and risk reduction tools risk, with particular attention to the needs of ports of small and medium-sized sizes.

The last priority is related to social cohesion, quality skills and jobs, and the strategy highlights the important role of small and medium-sized ports and outlines specific initiatives on innovation, energy and security and connectivity to support these ports. In addition, the Commission will support the development of a Skilled work of the new generation in all sectors through actions under the Blue Economy Strategy generational renewal. A new Pact for Skills for the industry will focus on improving skills, the retraining and inclusion of workers. The Commission will also develop guidelines on the application of the maritime safety legislation to port workers who operate on board ships, as well as on the safe handling of alternative fuels in ports.

The second maritime industrial strategy presented today It is founded on three pillars. The first, "Build, equip and repair", focuses on capacity building of the European shipbuilding industry and the leadership of the European shipbuilding industry technological development of Europe. This pillar includes actions aimed at promoting the EU's industrial sovereignty and creating synergies along the entire maritime value chain. To this end, the Commission to launch an 'EU Industrial Maritime Value' Chain Alliance". The strategy also aims to accelerate the digital and circular transformation of European shipyards, maximising public demand and funding and improving the global level playing field for industry shipbuilding.

The Transport and Connections pillar includes measures to strengthen competitiveness, sustainability and maritime transport connectivity. In particular, includes measures to simplify administrative procedures and reporting for maritime transport, to support the green and digital transition, to promote maritime transport of quality and improve agility and attitude proactive in international relations. The Commission has specified that, together with the Member States, it will strengthen the the EU's commitment to the International Maritime Organization on global maritime standards, to help achieve global maritime conditions of parity. The strategy then provides for the continuation of the the use of the existing guidelines on aid for State for maritime transport to maintain the current quotas of and encourage ships to choose EU flags.

The third pillar, "Safety and Security", aims to Strengthen Naval, Underwater, Dual-Use and Military Capabilities to increase security and resilience. The Commission specified that the action mobilises several instruments to support shipbuilding capacity, strengthen the awareness of the maritime sector at EU level and pursue a Support mechanism for the construction of dual-use ferries civilian and military with improved military specifications.

The European Commission has explained that the strategy aims to mobilise EU, national and private funding to support investments in fleet decarbonisation, innovation and in the defense. This includes using existing funds such as the Connecting Europe Facility, the Fund for Innovation, Horizon Europe, the programmes of the European Fund for defence, national revenues from the EU ETS and risk-sharing instruments through InvestEU, pending the adoption of the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

To ensure effective implementation of the Ports Strategy and the maritime sector, the Commission will set up a Council for maritime industries and ports, chaired by the responsible Commissioner and the Vice-Presidents.