Brussels, 25 November 2021
During the Plenary meeting of the 25th of November, the European Parliament discussed the issue of international ports’ congestions and increased transport costs affecting the EU.
Speaking on behalf of Commissioner Valean, Commissioner Dalli acknowledged that ports’ congestion and increased transport costs are of utmost importance to European industries and economy and that there are multiple causes for the current disruption in the market. She also noted that spot freight rates have continued rising in the third quarter of 2021 reaching new historical highs and that schedule reliability remains poor. Ms Dalli underlined the need to enhance the resilience of our supply chains and be better prepared to respond to potential future crises. She also argued that, in markets that are heavily intertwined, common actions would appear as the most appropriate responses.
During the debate that followed Commissioner Dalli speech, many MEPs voiced concerns about the impact of this crisis on the EU, namely the threat to the economic recovery and the proper functioning of the maritime supply chains.
Some MEPs suggested that the EU should work with its international partners to investigate the real causes of this congestion, while others voiced their concerns regarding competitiveness and concentration processes.