Resilient Waterborne Logistics Supply Chains:
A Key to EU Competitiveness
As a result of constructive discussions that took place at the end of February 2025, 17 organisations, including FEPORT, have agreed upon 8 priorities that should be considered by the EU Commission when drafting the future EU Industrial Maritime and Port Strategies.
Europe boasts one of the largest and most advanced shipping fleets globally, comprising 35% of the world's total fleet. Besides, it can rely on an inland fleet of roughly 17.000 freight and passenger vessels of all different kinds, offering low-emission transport and modal shift potential on the network of European waterways. It is of increasing economic importance to the tourism sector in Europe. The European maritime technology sector is a global leader in high-tech shipbuilding, green and smart port solutions, and advanced shipping technologies. It supplies almost half of the world’s maritime equipment and has been instrumental in the design and development of the majority of the world’s fleet power systems.
European ports, which collectively handle over 3.5 billion tonnes of cargo annually, play a strategic role as multimodal hubs, gateways to trade, enablers of the energy transition and diversification, and facilitators of the decarbonisation of waterborne transport, securing the supply of all types of raw materials, semi and finished products to all European territories. Inland waterways further strengthen this ecosystem by ensuring efficient and sustainable transport of large cargo volumes within ports' hinterlands while also serving as an essential resource for industrial applications, such as cooling and heating power plants.
The waterborne ecosystem is a dynamic, multifaceted industry comprising a diverse spectrum of public and private stakeholders, ranging from maritime and hinterland infrastructure managers and operators to product manufacturers and service providers. As a cornerstone of the European economy, the sector facilitates nearly 90% of the EU’s international trade, accounting for 81% of external trade and 40% of internal trade. It is also a key driver of employment and economic growth, providing 4.2 million direct jobs and contributing approximately €500 billion annually to the EU’s Gross Domestic Product.
This ecosystem is fundamental to reinforcing the EU’s resilience across trade, security, defence, energy supply, and sustainability. To maintain its global leadership, the sector continues to invest in innovation, green and digital transformation, and supply chain efficiency. However, achieving these ambitions necessitates a fully integrated transport and logistics ecosystem, encompassing maritime and land transport, terminals, and supporting logistics services[1].
The 17 organisations fully support the key initiatives recently proposed, including regulatory simplification, lowering market entry barriers to enhance competition, facilitating access to finance to bolster competitiveness, the attention to industrial clusters, promoting labour upskilling and quality employment, and improving policy coordination at both the EU and national levels. To ensure a strong, future-proof waterborne ecosystem, it is imperative to leverage synergies and interdependencies between the different industries.
The 17 organisations strongly advocate for an ecosystem-driven strategy as part of the EU’s broader industrial, transport, and sustainability agenda, ensuring that the waterborne ecosystem remains innovative, resilient, and competitive.
All undersigned organisations stand ready to engage in a constructive, transparent, and open dialogue with the European Commission to shape a forward-looking competitiveness plan that secures Europe's leadership in the global waterborne sector.
[1] According to the 2024 Transport in the European Union Report issued by DG MOVE, this interconnected ecosystem represents over 5% of total employment and nearly 5% of the EU’s gross added value. Ensuring the sector’s long-term competitiveness and resilience requires a coherent and coordinated approach at both EU and national levels.
COCERAL – European traders in agri-commodities and agrosupply;
CER – Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies
CLECAT – European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services
FEPORT – Federation of Private Port Operators and Terminals
ERFA – European Rail Freight Association
ESPO – European Sea Ports Organisation
WATERBORNE – Waterborne Technology Platform
INE – Inland Navigation Europe
EBU – European Barge Union
ETF – European Transport Workers’ Federation
ESC – European Shippers’ Council
ECASBA – European Community Association of Ship Brokers and Agents
EMPA – European Maritime Pilots’ Association
UNISTOCK – European association of portside storekeepers of agri-bulk commodities
ETA – European Tugowners Association
EuDA – European Dredging Association
TIC 4.0 – Terminal Industry Committee 4.0
FEPORT Eighth Stakeholder's Conference: 9th April 2025
Dear colleagues, guests, and friends,
The EU’s maritime cluster plays a critical role in global competition on digital dominance and decarbonisation. While the EU is not as prominent as the U.S. in digital technologies or as aggressive as China in renewable energy production, future EU support must measure scale-up in driving sustainability and innovation in the maritime sector.
The EU maritime cluster encompasses shipbuilding, shipping, ports, marine technology, and blue economy sectors. The EU is home to some of the world's leading shipping companies, innovative shipbuilders, and advanced port superstructures operated by competitive world class players.
However, Asian shipyards dominate commercial shipbuilding, particularly in South Korea and China, making it hard for EU yards to compete on cost. High costs of alternative fuels and retrofitting vessels also pose barriers to rapid decarbonisation. Some lessons are to be learnt, and strong measures to support the competitiveness of the entire maritime sector must become a priority.
The way in which European policymakers look at the value of the maritime ecosystem must evolve as all industries that are part of the cluster play a decisive role and are totally interdependent.
During the eighth FEPORT Stakeholders Conference, we will, among others, discuss the competitiveness of the maritime and port sectors, trade policies that are required to give access to markets in the EU and outside the EU for all players, and how reciprocity can rebalance our relationship with our competitors.
We are thrilled to announce that Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas will deliver a speech during our conference.
We look forward to having an interesting conversation with our high-profile speakers and guests on how the EU can be more offensive and assertive towards its competitors.
The conference will start at 9:00 am and conclude at 17:00 pm. It will include opening addresses followed by three moderated sessions and exchanges with the audience.
We look forward to welcoming you on April 9, 2025.
The FEPORT team.
News
EU Commission publishes annual report on CO2 Emissions from Maritime Transport – Brussels
ENISA’s First NIS360 Report – Athens
FEPORT Engages in EU Sectoral Social Dialogue on Ports – Brussels
EU and Brazil Join Forces to Combat Organised Crime and Terrorism
EU Transport Ministers Prioritise Resilient and Secure Infrastructure – Warsaw
FEPORT participates to EMPA-EuDA and ETA workshop during the EU Shipping Summit – Brussels
Commission publishes first draft report on monitoring of ETS Maritime
White Paper for European Defence: Readiness 2030 – Brussels
FEPORT participates in 69th TCG meeting – Brussels
Women in Transport Platform for Change Reflections from the Meeting – Brussels
FEPORT attends 14th EU UK DAG meeting as dialogue gains momentum – Brussels
FEPORT replies to call for feedback on Taxonomy Delegated Acts – Brussels
