The Italian Association of Port Terminal Operators (Assiterminal) has expressed support for the new strategic lines on industry presented yesterday by the European Commission ( of 4 March 2026). "The European strategy - observed the president Tomaso Cognolato - seems to be in line with what shared with Feport (the European federation of terminal operators ports, ed.) in recent years and with what we have been supporting for that the development of the port must always be seen from the perspective of intermodal connections to be made more efficient through uniform digitalisation, an energy transition the harmonised development of new skills: sometimes the perpetration of upheavals on a global scale that impact geopolitics and economies of scale can, in the dramatic of many aspects and effects, to be a spur to look around and not to remain still on oneself".

"Without connections - underlined Cognolato - there is no development and it is necessary to start from an in-depth analysis of the supply capacity of our port hubs: this means having a clear overview of the current potential of our docks (in terms of layout area, capacity and external connections) to move as many and such as containers, various goods, trailers, passengers, vehicles in genre. In parallel, launch a broad market analysis with the stakeholders first of all from industry, then from transport territories, as well as the managers of the infrastructure with port operators at the centre, for the through associations and System Authorities: only Through this path you can arrive, for example, at that Programme Agreement mentioned in the drafts of the bill on Porti d'Italia Spa".

The director of Assiterminal, Alessandro Ferrari, noted whereas the strategy defined by the EU has long been reflected in the presented by terminal operators: "nothing new for us, but perhaps - he said - the opportunity to intercept and seize a new opportunities for the consolidation of our companies also through a greater sensitivity to enhance public-private partnerships both from the point of view of and towards a system of uniform rules, through a simplification that also allows the referee to enforce them, the rules, intervening without the aid of VAR".

"Evident - concluded Tomaso Cognolato - as well as the hypothesis of rethinking the ETS sees us in favour, even if we are financial speculation taking place on the that drain the ability to invest in the assets Ships and ports."

If not diametrically opposed, it was certainly different the acceptance of the strategies proposed by the EU by the Seas At Risk, One Planet Port and International Fund organizations for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which are responsible for promoting the protection of the marine environment, animals and fauna who expressed concerns about certain aspects of the of the two strategies, and in particular for a proposal that affects the development of ports.

If, for the three organizations, both strategies are not Up to the ambition needed to safeguard the seas EU regulation, the reference to the proposed regulation on the acceleration of environmental impact assessments, part of the Environmental Omnibus legislative package, "is alarming". The associations have highlighted that if "the are crucial to the European economy, are often located in the in fragile marine areas such as estuaries, where the expansion and activities can damage important wildlife habitats to local level and blue carbon ecosystems". According to Seas At Risk, One Planet Port and IFAW, "to safeguard and truly restore marine environments, strategies must go further, integrating nature into planning and port development, avoiding expansion into sensitive natural areas and prioritizing nature-based solutions such as ecological breakwaters, living sea walls and more efficient management of sediments".

Seas At Risk, One Planet Port and IFAW welcomed the attention paid, in a period of fragile commercial dynamics digital development of ports and the strengthening of the "made in EU" production, "but this - they have specified - must not be at the expense of the environment. Integrate Stronger circular economy principles and a more sustainable located in European ports would encourage the creation of new jobs, would shorten supply chains maritime and would reduce the carbon and material footprint".

Environmental associations have also complained that "the strategies also overlook an important opportunity Concrete: the increase in wind propulsion on ships. If electrification and e-fuels are referred to as pathways to decarbonization - they noted - wind propulsion is widely addressed in terms of the development of methodologies for take into account the energy savings from wind energy and the need to close regulatory gaps at EU level, and of the International Maritime Organization. However, propulsion Wind already offers a proven zero-emission solution which could significantly reduce the contribution of transport greenhouse gas emissions, while strengthening the industrial leadership. The rise of technologies - the three organisations highlighted - would help the EU to achieve the FuelEU target of reducing emissions by 80% by 2050. Bringing more wind energy to Europe it would bring innovation and research. When combined with the reduction of the speed of ships, wind propulsion can also help reduce noise pollution and the risk of collisions with marine mammals. Harnessing this potential is essential to ensure that infrastructure and policies developed pursue the objective of to decarbonise maritime transport and reduce the the impact of the maritime sector on marine life. If the The Commission is serious about facilitating this transition, and must support ports and the maritime sector by activating modernizing equipment and providing training essential to skilled workers".