The European Commission is following the course of the “Szczecin Declaration”

By Marek Grzybowski

The European Commission has launched preparations for the EU Ports Strategy and the EU Maritime Strategy in Industry and is inviting stakeholders to participate in this process. On July 1st, a number of representatives from European maritime businesses and maritime industry communities participated in a strategic dialogue on the EU Maritime Strategy. The meeting was held at the invitation of Apostolos Tzitzikostas, EU Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, also participated.

The meeting was held because the Commissioners responsible for industry noted that the European shipbuilding and naval equipment industry, as well as maritime transport, are playing an increasingly marginal role globally. It is said that European industries operate under the pressure of global competition. However, it must be stated that in practice, products in many maritime industries cannot exist without components made in China. Furthermore, dependence on ASEAN economies poses numerous significant threats to the energy, economic, and military security of European countries.

The important points of the “Szczecin Declaration” were highlighted, namely that “the EU industrial strategy for the maritime economy will aim to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of the sector, while accelerating its green and digital transformation.”

Maritime Industries: The Foundation of EU Security
“Maritime industries are the foundation of Europe’s strategic autonomy, resilience, and security. We need a European industrial strategy that will truly strengthen competitiveness and allow us to compete with global leaders,” said Deputy Minister Arkadiusz Marchewka, opening the session entitled “Towards a competitive and resilient maritime Europe.”

The “Szczecin Declaration” was signed by representatives of ministries from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Poland.

“In the Szczecin Declaration, we call on the European Commission to urgently develop a Maritime Industry Strategy. This strategy should, above all, strengthen the global competitiveness of European shipping, the shipbuilding industry, and marine equipment,” said Deputy Minister Marchewka.

These words echo what Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, said before the European Commission debate: “With our upcoming EU strategies for ports and maritime industries, we want to ensure that European ports and maritime industries are equipped to lead the clean and digital energy transition, support defense and trade, and maintain global competitiveness. Broad stakeholder input is essential—we are committed to listening to the needs and ambitions of the sector to help shape a future-proof Europe.”

Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, said: “As part of our Industrial Recovery Plan, the Commission is committed to supporting sectors where Europe is a global leader. The maritime industry and our ports are crucial to Europe’s sovereignty. Our priority is to strengthen their competitiveness while driving their decarbonization. Today’s dialogue is the first step towards a renewed ambition for our European maritime leadership.”

Źródło: SEA Europe

The Strategic Nature of Maritime Industries
Vincent Guerre from SEA Europe reiterated that “Maritime industries are strategic and form the foundation of European trade, energy, defense, and industrial resilience—yet for too long they have been neglected in EU policy.”

Eero Lehtovaara, Chair of the Waterborne Technology Platform, also attended the meeting. He emphasized the need to “maintain and increase technological leadership… because this represents an opportunity for Europe’s aquatic ecosystem. Technological leadership means developing and implementing competitive solutions.”

Lehtovaara advocated for “Collaborative and coordinated research, development, and innovation through effective partnerships.” A stable, predictable, fit-for-purpose, and easily accessible funding and investment framework is a prerequisite for RD&I and its implementation. SME-friendly access to EU funding and national programs is essential, the Chair of the Waterborne Technology Platform urged.

Inland Waterway Transport Structure in the EU, Source: European Barge Union

Matthieu Blanc, President of the European Barge Union (EBU), also attended the meeting on July 1, 2025. He emphasized the role of inland waterway transport as the most sustainable mode of transport in Europe. It is not only important for transport but also provides an excellent opportunity for the development of sustainable tourism along the European river network. It should be added that Polish rivers are still not widely used for either transport or tourism.

Things are good in the EU, but they can be better. Therefore, the European inland waterway transport and port sector has long called for the close integration of inland waterway transport with the European industrial strategy related to shipbuilding, the European port strategy, and the sustainable transport investment plan.

Maritime Transport Important for EU Security

European shipowners and the European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) were represented by President Karin Orsel. She stated on social media that “The upcoming maritime industry strategy is an opportunity to maintain the competitiveness of European shipping, which we cannot afford to miss. It is a prerequisite for the creation of a competitive European maritime industry cluster.”

The ECSA lists competitiveness as the top priorities of the EU’s industrial strategy for maritime transport: maintaining the international competitiveness of European shipping through a global level playing field and a regulatory and tax framework that is fit for purpose.

“Investment instead of protectionism” should be an important line of action. It is essential to mandate that revenues from the emissions trading system be used at the national level for the energy transition of shipping. We urgently need to invest in production capacity for clean fuels and technologies and close the huge price gap.

“Requiring 40% of clean fuels and technologies to be produced in Europe will also provide additional certainty for producers, manufacturers, and consumers, while also increasing industrial potential in Europe,” emphasizes ECSA.

It is essential to improve the skills and retrain the seafaring and ship maintenance workforce. 250,000 people need to be trained or retrained in Europe alone.

“This must be done to meet the challenges of the energy transition. This is an opportunity to increase the attractiveness of the sector for various profiles and thus increase competitiveness,” ECSA advocates.

Shipping needs to simplify many procedures. Administrative burdens and the lack of harmonized reporting requirements are unacceptable today. They hinder the competitiveness of shipping companies and European freight transport. “We support the Commission’s goal of reducing administrative burdens by 25% and by 35% for SMEs, which form the backbone of European shipping,” ECSA states in a press release.

Źródło: SEA Europe

Strategic Shipbuilding

SEA Europe (Shipyards’ & Maritime Equipment Association of Europe) published its official recommendations on July 2nd in response to the Commission’s call for proposals for a European industrial strategy. SEA Europe states: “Representing shipyards and maritime equipment manufacturers across Europe, we call for concrete, targeted action to secure Europe’s place in the global maritime industry.”

SEA Europe’s key priorities:

Strengthening the European maritime manufacturing base—from shipyards to equipment suppliers

Recovering key market segments and increasing the capacity to design, build, modernize, and maintain ships in Europe

Increasing demand by supporting shipowners who choose European shipyards

Investing in innovation, green technologies, and digitalization

Attracting and training the next generation of maritime workers

Ensuring fair global competition—and ending harmful subsidies and distortions

Exploiting synergies with the defense sector and enabling dual-use.

Źródło: SEA Europe

€26 billion for EU transport development

On July 3rd, the European Commission announced that the EU will invest €2.8 billion in 94 transport projects to enhance sustainable and connected mobility across Europe. These projects are intended to improve the integration of the EU’s industrial and urban areas and ensure the accessibility of ports and logistics centers.

The total budget of the CEF Transport program for 2021-2027 is €25.8 billion. It is available to finance projects in all EU Member States, as well as Ukraine and Moldova – two CEF Associated Countries.

Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, said: “With nearly €2.8 billion in EU funding, we are delivering on Europe’s promise of a modern, sustainable, and resilient transport network. These 94 projects will not only increase cross-border connectivity and efficiency, but also boost competitiveness across the continent. From Rail Baltica in the north to shore-based electricity in our southern ports, from safe road networks to a smarter Single European Sky.”

The 94 projects were selected from a pool of 258 applications submitted under the last call for proposals, which closed on January 21, 2025. EU funding for these projects will be provided in the form of grants, which are used to co-finance the total eligible project costs.

Under the current call, 95% of this budget has already been allocated. Since its launch in 2014, the Connecting Europe Facility has supported 1,861 projects (including the current call for 94 projects) with a total funding of €47.34 billion in the transport sector. More information and a list of selected projects are available on the CINEA website.