On 4 March 2026, Executive Vice-Presidents Stéphane Séjourné and Raffaele Fitto, alongside Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, presented two new EU strategies: the EU Ports Strategy and the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy. The strategies aim to strengthen the competitiveness of Europe's maritime industry and ports, enhance security and resilience, and accelerate the transition to sustainability. Séjourné stressed that ports are strategic assets for trade, energy, industry, and military mobility, while the maritime strategy seeks to revive EU shipbuilding and support shipping in the face of global competition and geopolitical tensions.
The Ports Strategy addresses foreign ownership risks, drug trafficking, cybersecurity, and energy transition. The Commission will develop criteria and guidance for Member States on foreign control of strategic dual-use ports, build on the European Ports Alliance against drug trafficking, and launch an EU-wide cybersecurity risk assessment. To support energy transition, permit-granting for strategic energy projects will be sped up, and the upcoming Electrification Action Plan will address grid access and capacity. Funding from the Connecting Europe Facility, Cohesion Policy funds, and InvestEU will support ports, with special attention to small and medium-sized ports and those serving islands and outermost regions.
The Industrial Maritime Strategy focuses on manufacturing and shipping. It includes supporting digital transformation of shipyards, creating an Industrial Maritime Value Chain Alliance, simplifying legislation for EU shipping, and encouraging vessels to fly EU flags. On decarbonisation, the strategy commits to fleet renewal, international collaboration via Global Gateway Green Shipping Corridors, and work within the IMO. A dedicated maritime call under the Innovation Fund is planned for 2027. The Commission also calls on Member States to reinvest ETS revenues in decarbonising waterborne transport. To address skills gaps, the strategy will identify needs and work with social partners on training and upskilling.
On security, the strategies highlight ports' role in military mobility and propose a dual-use ferry construction support mechanism to enable commercial ferries to transport heavy equipment in crises. Naval production capacity, such as for icebreakers, will also be supported.
Séjourné emphasised that the strategies provide a clear framework with concrete actions, but stressed that Member States and stakeholders must deliver: "Europe's strategic autonomy cannot and will not be built in Brussels alone."