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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2059(INI))

On the building a comprehensive European port strategy

TRAN-PR-750225

Committee on Transport and Tourism · Rapporteur: Tom Berendsen

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 26 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This draft report by the Committee on Transport and Tourism calls for a comprehensive European port strategy. It asks the Commission to reduce non-EU influence and control in EU ports, strengthen port security and cybersecurity, support ports in the energy transition, and improve the competitiveness of EU ports and shipping. It highlights warnings from intelligence agencies about economic dependence, espionage and sabotage from non-EU entities in critical infrastructure such as ports. It suggests Member States introduce laws to retake control of ports and maritime infrastructure and develop contingency plans for a major conflict scenario.

Committee position. The rapporteur calls on the Commission to propose with priority a comprehensive European Port Strategy that ensures competitiveness and resilience of European ports and prevents foreign dependency, including limits on foreign investment in critical port infrastructure.

Key points

  1. Highlights repeated warnings by intelligence agencies against risks of economic dependence, espionage and sabotage caused by non-EU entities in critical infrastructure such as ports.
  2. Calls on the Commission to present an EU strategic policy framework to reduce and limit influence and operational control by non-EU countries in EU ports and their hinterland operations.
  3. Calls on the Commission to continuously monitor and report on non-EU influence in EU ports, terminal management and global container shipping.
  4. Stresses that limiting foreign investment in one port can harm its competitiveness versus neighbouring ports, underlining the need for a joint European strategy.
  5. Underlines that existing EU protective mechanisms such as FDI screening and competition rules are insufficient and depend heavily on Member State implementation.
  6. Calls on the Commission to research the impact of vertical integration, the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation and container alliances on non-EU influence in EU ports.
  7. Encourages the Commission and Member States to carry out a risk assessment of China's involvement in maritime infrastructures, including dependencies and bottlenecks.
  8. Suggests all Member States introduce laws to retake control of ports and maritime infrastructure and develop contingency plans for a major conflict scenario.
  9. Calls on the Commission to address espionage and sabotage risks in ports with a military function, such as NATO-used ports, and to promote trusted technology and cybersecurity.
  10. Underlines that EU ports are key entry points for illicit drugs and calls for European cooperation to combat drug trafficking and criminal subversion.
  11. Stresses ports' vital role in the energy transition and calls on the Commission to address investment needs and workforce skills for this role.
  12. Calls on the Commission to improve port competitiveness, explore an EU maritime cabotage law, strengthen hinterland connections, support maritime manufacturing, and stimulate digitalisation.

Who is affected

  • EU ports and terminal operators: would face limits on foreign investment and new security and cybersecurity requirements.
  • Member States: encouraged to introduce laws to retake control of ports and develop conflict contingency plans.
  • Non-EU investors and state-owned entities: would face increased screening and limits on investments in EU ports.
  • EU shipping companies: could benefit from a possible EU maritime cabotage law applying to non-EU shippers.

Legal basis: Article XVIII of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union