European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, speaking at the Posidonia International Shipping Exhibition 2026 in Piraeus on 1 June, called for a firm European stance to uphold freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, warned against accepting any restrictions or de facto tolls, and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to supporting the shipping industry through new strategies, reduced bureaucracy, and dedicated funding.
Tzitzikostas stressed that the four-month-old conflict in the Middle East must not make the closure of the Strait of Hormuz seem like a new normal. He highlighted that tens of thousands of seafarers remain trapped in the Persian Gulf, facing isolation and uncertainty. "The freedom of navigation is not merely an operational issue. It is a fundamental principle of international law," he said, adding that the EU must engage in intensified dialogue with all parties, especially Iran. He acknowledged the pressure on the industry to adapt but warned that yielding now would set a dangerous precedent.
The Commissioner also outlined two strategies he had presented before the crisis: the European Industrial Policy for Shipping and the European Ports Strategy. These aim to maintain the EU's leadership, strengthen its fleet, boost competitiveness, and transform ports into hubs of energy, innovation, and security. He explicitly endorsed national tonnage tax systems as a key tool for keeping European registers attractive, and promised to cut red tape for shipowners, simplifying reporting requirements under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) and FuelEU Maritime.
On financing, Tzitzikostas said he expects the future European Competitiveness Fund to become a key pillar of support for the maritime sector. He insisted that European companies should not pay twice for the energy transition — both in the EU and at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) — and that revenues from shipping under the ETS must be returned to the industry to fund clean fuels, new propulsion systems, and future technologies. He also called for boosting shipbuilding and maritime equipment production capacity in Europe, congratulating Greece for prioritising this area.
Regarding global climate efforts at the IMO, Tzitzikostas noted that the EU now has a new negotiating mandate seeking realistic solutions that build consensus. He stressed that any new measures must be fair, realistic, enforceable, and protective of the competitiveness of European and Greek shipping. "Only regulation is not enough for this transition to succeed," he said, calling for close cooperation among ports, shipowners, fuel suppliers, industry, and the public sector, as well as the availability of affordable alternative fuels and suitable technological solutions.
Tzitzikostas concluded by framing shipping as a force for connection, stability, and progress, and expressed confidence that from Posidonia 2026 the European and Greek shipping industry can send a strong message: it is not afraid of the future but ready to shape it.