The Council of the European Union's Working Party on Shipping is scheduled to meet on 6 July 2026 in Brussels to advance EU coordination on key International Maritime Organization (IMO) dossiers, including artificial intelligence safety standards for navigation equipment, onboard carbon capture technologies, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction measures. The meeting, set for 14:30 at the Council's premises, will examine several documents to be issued ahead of the session, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published by the Council.
The agenda includes an information point on the work programme of the Irish Presidency, followed by a state-of-play update from the European Commission on IMO work concerning GHG emissions from ships. The Commission will also brief members on forward planning of IMO submissions. The core of the meeting will focus on preparing three upcoming IMO meetings. For IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 112, scheduled for 14-18 December 2026 in London), the Working Party will examine a Presidency compromise proposal for a draft Union submission on AI performance standards for navigational and communication equipment, contained in document ST 11265/26 to be issued. For the IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 12, 14-18 September 2026), the Commission will present a non-paper on onboard carbon capture technologies, with the document to be issued. For the IMO Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 22, 1-4 September 2026), the Commission will present a Staff Working Document on key elements for IMO GHG measures aligned with the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, also to be issued.
The meeting underscores the EU's effort to harmonise member state positions before key IMO negotiations, particularly on cutting-edge maritime technologies and climate measures. The documents to be issued will likely propose specific technical standards and policy positions, with implications for shipping companies, equipment manufacturers, and environmental stakeholders. No prior coverage of this specific meeting exists in recent months, making this a new development in EU maritime policy coordination.