Brussels, 17 July 2026
Today, the European Commission presented its long-awaited ETS revision proposal. The text comes at a moment where the EU is actively looking for smart policies that reconcile its targets in terms of decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. This ambition is at the heart of the ETS reform, including the adjustments that are proposed for the maritime sector.
Since the inception of the ETS in July 2021, which extended the emission trading system to the maritime sector as one of the flagship measures of the Fit for 55 package, FEPORT has consistently called attention to the potentially negative impacts on the competitiveness of ports in the EU. The Directive applies to international shipping emissions taking place on voyages between ports in the EU and non-EU ports, meaning the shipping sector can reduce costs by avoiding calls in the European Union.
The Directive in force since May 2023 already recognised this risk by excluding two of the EU’s ports’ main competitors – Tanger Med and East Port Said – from the definition of “port of call” meaning vessels including an additional stopover at one of those ports in their rotation will still pay the full ETS costs once they call at a port in the EU.
While a relevant mitigating measure, this latter did not cover all evasion options shipping has at its disposal. FEPORT therefore takes note of the newly proposed criteria that allow for the inclusion of additional ports in the list of “neighbouring container transhipment ports” based on reduced transhipment thresholds and additional criteria to asses ports’ capacity to accommodate transhipment traffic.
“It is however unlikely though that this proposal will be able to combat all forms of evasion, including transhipment and relay evasion that could pass through an EU port but where both the origin and the destination of the cargo is outside the EU” says FEPORT Secretary General, Lamia Kerdjoudj.
Furthermore the Commission seems to have overlooked that targeted funding support is another means to bolster the competitiveness of ports and if investments are done in a smart way to support the rollout of alternative fuels infrastructure or the deployment of green port equipment, financial support can also encourage decarbonisation.
FEPORT therefore regrets that the support envisaged in the proposal to the maritime sector fails to recognise the role of ports and terminals in supporting decarbonisation, the energy transition and industrial competitiveness. Allowances should also be earmarked for the port sector, as it is indirectly affected by the ETS due to its connection to shipping and its increasing electrification rate.
“FEPORT therefore regrets that the support envisaged in the proposal to the maritime sector fails to recognise the role of ports and terminals in supporting decarbonisation, the energy transition and industrial competitiveness. Allowances should also be earmarked for the port sector, as it is indirectly affected by the ETS due to its connection to shipping and its increasing electrification rate” concludes FEPORT Secretary General.
FEPORT and its members will continue their careful analysis of the proposed measures and look forward to discussions with policy makers.
For more information, please contact:
Ms. Lamia Kerdjoudj, Secretary General of FEPORT
Mr. Maarten Boot, Senior Policy Advisor
