On 20th of May, FEPORT took part in a timely and forward-looking discussion on EU maritime security and defence, organised by the SEArica Intergroup at the European Parliament under the initiative of MEP André Rodrigues. With maritime spaces increasingly at the heart of geopolitical tensions, the discussion reaffirmed a simple but vital premise: securing Europe’s sea basins requires shared responsibility and collective action.
Ports emerged as strategic actors in this conversation—not only as gateways to trade, but as essential components of Europe’s critical infrastructure. As the boundaries between civilian and defence domains become increasingly porous, the concept of “dual-use” infrastructure is gaining relevance. Ports must be ready to accommodate both economic operations and potential defence or emergency needs. Ensuring this readiness requires targeted investment and forward-looking policy.
Instruments such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) were rightly identified as key enablers. But beyond funding, there is a growing need for coordination between institutions, national authorities, and industry stakeholders to ensure that ports are recognised—and supported—as partners in Europe’s resilience architecture.
The exchanges also underscored that maritime security is no longer a siloed defence matter. Environmental risks, energy flows, commercial vulnerabilities, and strategic autonomy are all interlinked in the maritime domain. Ensuring safe and secure maritime corridors is not only a matter of defence—it is a matter of economic stability and societal well-being.
FEPORT thanks MEPs Thomas Bajda, Isabelle Le Callennec, and Ville Niinistö for their valuable contributions, and acknowledges the ongoing work of the European Commission and EEAS representatives who shared updates on future initiatives. We also appreciated the thoughtful perspectives brought by domain experts, whose input will be instrumental in ensuring that policy is informed by operational realities.
As Europe reflects on the next steps for its maritime and port strategies, FEPORT remains committed to ensuring that port voices are heard and that the strategic value of port infrastructure is fully recognised in the evolving security landscape.
