Shipping is strategically important for the EU – whether in ensuring continued European com­pe­ti­ti­ve­ness, strengthening Europe’s autonomy and resilience, or reducing Europe’s climate emissions. The European Commission underlines this unequivocally in the Industrial Maritime Strategy and the EU Ports Strategy, which were presented today.

At Danish Shipping, work has been focused on ensuring that the strategies emphasise improving the com­pe­ti­ti­ve­ness of the shipping sector.

“It is positive that the Commission recognises the strategic importance of European shipping for Europe and focuses on developing and strengthening the European maritime cluster so that we can continue to compete globally in the future,” said Anna Vejlby Ib, Head of Danish Shipping’s EU Representation.

Among other things, the Commission acknowledges in the strategies the global competitive landscape and the importance of framework conditions that can match those of global competitors.

“During the development of the strategies, there were discussions about pursuing a far more protectionist direction. We have been very skeptical of this, as it would risk isolating European shipping. It is encouraging – and wise – that the Commission has chosen not to go down that path,” said Anna Vejlby Ib.

The green transition of shipping is also addressed in the strategies, where the Commission stresses the need for a global agreement at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), followed by a revision of EU legislation to avoid double payment for the same emissions.

“The Commission is focusing on a global agreement on shipping emissions, and that is absolutely the right approach. A global industry such as shipping needs global rules. The sustainable transition of shipping and the com­pe­ti­ti­ve­ness of European shipping are inextricably linked. As we have long argued, such an agreement must be concluded in the IMO, and EU legislation should subsequently be reviewed to ensure the com­pe­ti­ti­ve­ness of EU-flagged vessels,” said Anna Vejlby Ib.

One of the major barriers to the sustainable transition of shipping is the lack of investment in, among other things, the production of green fuels. In their strategies, the Commission points out that ETS revenues should be used far more extensively to invest in green initiatives within industry.

“Danish Shipping has specifically argued that shipping’s ETS contributions should be used for investments in clean tech. It is therefore positive that, with these strategies, the Commission highlights the need to focus on the energy transition and proposes using national ETS revenues to promote, among other things, green fuels and clean technologies for shipping. We now hope that Member States will follow suit and earmark ETS revenues for the green transition of shipping, so that we can scale up the urgently needed supply of green fuels for the sector,” said Anna Vejlby Ib.

The Industrial Maritime Strategy and the EU Ports Strategy do not contain legislation but outline the direction for future legislative work.