The EU Council's Working Party on Shipping is scheduled to meet on 17 July 2026 in Brussels to discuss and prepare draft Union submissions for upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) meetings, focusing on greenhouse gas emissions, artificial intelligence standards, and port security. The meeting, announced in a notice published on 15 July 2026, will take place at the Justus Lipsius Building.
The agenda includes an update from the European Commission on the state of play of IMO work on GHG emissions from ships, as well as forward planning of IMO submissions. A key item is the examination of a Presidency compromise proposal (ST 11265/2/26 REV 2) for a draft Union submission to IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 112, scheduled for December 2026) proposing a new output on performance standards for AI systems in navigational and communication equipment. The Working Party will also review a Commission Staff Working Document (ST 11987/26) for a draft Union submission to amend the ILO/IMO Code of practice on security in ports.
Additionally, the group will examine a Presidency compromise proposal (ST 11601/2/2026 REV 2) for a draft Union submission to the IMO's Intersessional Working Group on GHG Emissions (ISWG-GHG 22, set for September 2026) on key elements for the IMO GHG measure to align with the 2023 IMO GHG strategy. The meeting aims to coordinate EU member states' positions ahead of these IMO sessions, ensuring a unified EU stance on critical maritime issues.
The outcomes will affect EU shipping companies, which face potential new compliance costs from GHG measures and AI standards; port authorities, which may need to update security protocols; and equipment manufacturers, who could benefit from harmonised AI performance standards. The EU's push for ambitious GHG measures may also influence global shipping regulations, impacting non-EU fleets trading with Europe. No prior coverage of this specific meeting exists in recent EU Matrix archives.