DAILY NEWS
Brussels, 04 March 2026
Commission launches EU Industrial Maritime and Ports Strategies to boost competitiveness across the maritime sector
Today, the European Commission adopted a EU Industrial Maritime Strategy and a Ports Strategy to drive competitiveness, sustainability, decarbonisation, security and resilience within the EU's wider waterborne sector. The Strategies focus on ports, shipping, and shipbuilding.
Europe is a waterborne continent, with the world's largest collective maritime area. Its maritime manufacturing sector is a global leader in high-end shipbuilding and advanced technologies. The shipping sector is also a leading provider of maritime services worldwide, accounting for more than one third of global shipping tonnage across all segments.
EU Industrial Maritime Strategy boosts jobs, innovation and the EU's global leadership in shipbuilding and shipping
The EU Industrial Maritime Strategy will strengthen Europe's maritime leadership by a number of actions including launching an EU Industrial Maritime Value Chains Alliance. It is aimed at advancing high-tech shipbuilding, offshore wind support vessels, underwater drones, and cutting-edge port equipment. A 'Shipyards of the Future' R&I flagship call, under Horizon Europe, will also support the testing of innovative solutions in real-world shipyard environments, with the goal of scaling successful technologies across Europe. To foster competitive shipping, the Commission will establish a dialogue with Member States to promote EU flags and streamline administrative formalities, including the monitoring, reporting and verification framework for EU ETS Maritime and FuelEU Maritime.
The Strategy will leverage public demand and funding to promote private investment in innovation and digitalisation of the EU shipbuilding, as well as the renewal and decarbonisation of the shipping fleet, including through the inclusion of targeted non-price criteria in the upcoming review of the public procurement directives.
The Strategy ensures fair global competition for EU shipyards and equipment manufacturers, reinforced through strengthened export financing and targeted trade policies, including a possible sector specific tool for the sector. Furthermore, it fully reflects the dual-use nature of the sector by integrating a strong military dimension, with specific actions including the ramp-up of naval industrial production capacities and the development of a dual-use ferry construction support mechanism.
Finally, its measures enhance skills, training, and quality employment across the maritime sector, including re-skilling shipbuilding workers and seafarers to adopt new technologies and green operational practices.
EU Ports Strategy to ensure competitive, sustainable and safe ports
Ports are the backbone of Europe's economy. They facilitate around 74% of external trade, handling more than 3.4 billion tonnes of goods and nearly 395 million passengers each year.
The EU's ports are already evolving beyond their traditional roles, serving as hubs for new industry and innovation clusters. They also play a pivotal part in the EU's energy supply, security, defence and blue economy.
To accelerate this transformation and ensure the competitive position of EU ports, the Commission will promote their innovation, digitalisation and integration with other transport infrastructure, develop guidance on foreign ownership of EU ports and for EU funding and investments in third-country ports. To advance EU ports' clean energy transition, the Strategy presents measures promoting electrification and improved grid connection. It will also set out a roadmap for competitive small and medium-sized ports.
Ports are also crucial entry and exit points, making them prime targets for external threats and organised criminal groups. Building up on the EU Ports Alliance, the Commission will explore ways to further strengthen maritime security legislation to prevent drug trafficking, effectively address emerging threats and enhance EU supply chain security. Therefore, the Commission will propose frameworks for conducting port workers' background checks and for assessing third-country ports. A new forum will be established to facilitate the exchange of best practices among Member State cybersecurity and port authorities. Furthermore, an EU-wide security risk assessment will be carried out to identify the most pressing cybersecurity risks and measures to mitigate them.
To ensure effective implementation of the Strategies, the Commission will establish a high-level Maritime Industries and Ports Board, chaired by the responsible Commissioner and Executive Vice-Presidents.
Background
The Strategies were announced as key initiatives in Commissioner Tzitzikostas' Mission Letter and as flagship actions within the EU Competitiveness Compass and the European Ocean Pact. In July 2025, the Commission held two high-level Strategic Dialogues with industry stakeholders to discuss expectations for the Strategies. Similarly, stakeholder dialogues with European port CEOs in May 2025 and on port security in November 2025 fed into the Strategies.
For more information
Communication – EU Ports Strategy
Communication – EU Industrial Maritime Strategy
Questions and answers – EU Ports Strategy and EU Industrial Maritime Strategy
Factsheet – EU Ports Strategy
Factsheet – EU Industrial Maritime Strategy
News item – EU Ports Strategy
News item – EU Industrial Maritime Strategy
Webpage – EU Ports and Industrial Maritime Strategies
Quote(s)
Europe’s maritime manufacturing and shipping industries are fundamental to our sovereignty. They are key enablers of our strategic autonomy, security, and resilience. Our strategy will not only increase manufacturing capacities in Europe but also support ‘Made in EU’ leadership for specific vessels segments, technologies and innovation. The Industrial Maritime Strategies reflect our new method, based on a strategic dialogue and delivering a business-plan approach covering all strategic pillars for the value chain : from decarbonisation to digitalisation challenges, from boosting demand to ensuring a level playing field and integrating dual-use specificities, with simplification measures and new dedicated financing.
Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy
Ports, maritime manufacturing and shipping are essential for the European Union’s competitiveness, security and cohesion, especially in an increasingly volatile geopolitical environment. The maritime ecosystem connects Europe’s territories and its regional economies with our global partners, offering opportunities to people and business across the Union. The Industrial Maritime and Ports Strategies provide an integrated and comprehensive approach that builds on the strengths of these industries and their workforce. They aim to modernise, support and, where necessary, protect the sector, while mobilising public and private investment in people, infrastructure, and the autonomy and security of the EU’s maritime infrastructure and operations.
Raffaele Fitto, Executive Vice-President for Cohesion and Reforms
With our EU Ports and Industrial Maritime Strategies, we are equipping Europe’s ports, shipping and shipbuilding sectors to lead the clean energy transition, secure trade and defence, and remain globally competitive. They renew our ambition for European maritime leadership, reinforcing economic security, driving sustainable growth, and supporting quality jobs and territorial cohesion across Europe. Working hand in hand with industry and all relevant stakeholders, we will turn these Strategies into concrete results and anchor Europe as the leading waterborne continent.
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism
Ports are vital gateways to our internal market, yet they are increasingly targeted by trafficking networks, organised crime and corruption. With today’s EU Ports Strategy, we are strengthening security through enhanced background checks of port workers, deeper engagement with partner countries and public-private partnerships under the Ports Alliance. Already, EUR 200 million has been mobilised to upgrade customs scanning, container inspection and risk-analysis tools at major EU ports. Now we need to extend this to include smaller ports as well.
Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration
Commission proposes Industrial Accelerator Act to strengthen industry and create jobs in Europe
Today, the European Commission has adopted a legislative proposal to increase demand for low-carbon, European-made technologies and products. The Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) will boost manufacturing, grow businesses, and create jobs in the EU, while supporting industry's adoption of cleaner, future-ready technologies.
In line with the recommendations of the Draghi report, the IAA introduces targeted and proportionate ‘Made in EU' and / or low-carbon requirements for public procurement and public support schemes. These will apply to selected strategic sectors, notably in steel, cement, aluminium, cars, and net-zero technologies, while establishing a framework that can be extended, where appropriate, to other energy-intensive sectors such as chemicals. This will strengthen European production capacities and boost demand for European-made clean technologies and products. The Act includes a requirement for Member States to set up a single digital permitting process to speed up and simplify manufacturing projects.
The IAA aims to increase value creation in the EU, strengthening our industrial base against the backdrop of growing unfair global competition and increasing dependencies on non-EU suppliers in strategic sectors. It therefore represents a strategy to support long-term economic growth, prosperity and security. In 2024, manufacturing represented 14.3% of EU GDP and therefore plays a vital role in Europe's economic resilience, innovation lifecycle, and social fabric. The Act sets a goal to increase manufacturing's share of EU GDP to 20% by 2035.
At the same time, the EU remains one of the world's most open markets and is committed to maintaining that openness as a key source of economic strength and resilience. The proposal encourages greater reciprocity in public procurement, by providing equal treatment to countries that offer EU companies access to their markets, in line with the Draghi report. Content from partners with which the Union has concluded an agreement establishing a free trade area or a customs union, or that are parties to the Agreement on Government Procurement, and where relevant obligations of the Union exist under that agreement, shall be deemed to be of Union origin. For other public interventions, notably public schemes and auctions, partners can be covered within the IAA scope if they have a free trade agreement or customs union with the EU.
While remaining open to foreign direct investment, the IAA establishes conditions for major investments in strategic sectors exceeding €100 million where a single third country controls more than 40% of global manufacturing capacity. Such investments must create high-quality jobs, drive innovation and growth, and generate real value in the EU through technology and knowledge transfer, as well as compliance with local content requirements. They must also guarantee a 50% minimum level of European employment, ensuring businesses and citizens benefit alongside investors from access to the Single Market. In doing so, the IAA strengthens EU economic security and reinforces supply chain resilience.
The Industrial Accelerator Act leverages the strengths of the Single Market by:
Supporting lead markets for ‘Made in EU' and low-carbon products
The IAA introduces ‘Made in EU' and low-carbon preferences in public procurement and public support schemes to boost demand for European industrial products — cement, aluminium to net-zero technologies like batteries, solar, wind, heat pumps, and nuclear. For steel, the Act proposes specific low-carbon preferences to create market demand. This measure will give investors confidence and predictability, boosting innovation and making clean steel a core part of the EU's industrial future. Strategic use of public funds will support investments in the EU, thereby strengthening access to low-carbon products and safeguarding competitiveness.
Ensuring that foreign direct investments bring value to the EU
The EU remains a top destination for foreign direct investments (FDI), hosting almost one quarter of global FDI stock in 2024. To ensure that FDI strengthens EU supply chains, promotes technology transfer, and supports quality job creation, the IAA introduces conditions for investments above €100 million in emerging sectors such as batteries, electric vehicles, photovoltaics and critical raw materials.
Simplifying permitting
As part of the Commission's simplification agenda, the IAA streamlines and digitalises permitting procedures for industrial projects. This includes the introduction of a single digital ‘one-stop-shop' with clear time limits as well as the principle of tacit approval at intermediate stages of the permit-granting process for energy-intensive decarbonisation projects.
Boosting sustainable manufacturing
The IAA introduces Industrial Acceleration Areas designed to enable industrial symbiosis and encourage the creation of clean manufacturing project clusters. The creation of such clusters will facilitate essential energy infrastructure investments and promote area-wide permits. Projects in these areas will avail of profiling with investors and support with skills development.
Next steps
The proposed Regulation will be negotiated by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union before its adoption and entry into force.
This initiative is a proposal for a Regulation. It was announced in the Clean Industrial Deal and in last year's Joint Communication on strengthening EU economic security It also delivers on the Draghi report by creating EU demand for clean and EU-made products and key technologies through public procurement and support schemes.
Industrial Accelerator Act Regulation
Questions & Answers
Factsheet
Today marks a major step in the renewal of the European economic doctrine so the Union is fit for the 21st century, as recommended by the Draghi report. Facing unprecedented global uncertainty and unfair competition, European industry can count on the provisions of this Act to boost demand and guarantee resilient supply chains in strategic sectors. It will create jobs by directing taxpayers’ money to European production, decreasing our dependencies and enhancing our economic security and sovereignty.
Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative calling for a European social media platform
Today, the European Commission has registered a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI), entitled ‘European Public Social Network'.
The initiative invites the Commission to establish, through a legislative act, “a public social media platform at the European level”. That social media platform “would form an alternative to the current platforms and work as a service for the society, be funded by the society and be under its oversight” and “could stay impartial and independent from political pressures while also guaranteeing rights of all people without distinction”.
As this initiative fulfils the formal conditions established in the relevant legislation, the Commission considers it legally admissible under the European Citizens' Initiative Regulation. The Commission has not analysed the substance of the proposals at this stage. The registration does not influence the Commission's final decision on its merits, or any potential action it may take. The Commission will take a decision on the initiative only if it collects at least one million signatures from EU citizens.
Following today's registration, the organisers have six months to open the 12-month period of signature collection. If an ECI receives at least one million statements of support during that time, with minimum numbers reached in at least seven Member States, the Commission is required to react, and decide what, if any, action it will take in response to the initiative, justifying its decision.
The ECI was introduced with the Lisbon Treaty as an agenda-setting tool for citizens. It was officially launched in April 2012. Once formally registered, a European Citizens' Initiative allows one million citizens from at least seven EU Member States to invite the European Commission to propose legal acts in areas where it has the power to act. The conditions for admissibility are: (1) the proposed action does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission's powers to submit a legal proposal, (2) it is not manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious and (3) it is not manifestly contrary to the values of the Union.
Since the beginning of the European Citizens' Initiative, the Commission has registered 128 initiatives.
The content of the initiatives only expresses the views of the organisers and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the Commission.
‘European Public Social Network'
ECI statistics
ECIs currently collecting signatures
European Citizens' Initiative Forum
#EUTakeTheInitiative campaign
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Antoine Lomba – Tel: +32 2 299 32 33)
Commission's 2025 General Report highlights EU actions for citizens and businesses in a year marked by profound changes
The 2025 edition of the General Report on the activities of the EU presents the EU's key achievements in 2025, delivering to citizens while addressing new challenges in a more volatile and fragmented world. The EU remained steadfast in providing political, financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine and its people, while imposing sanctions to limit Russia's ability to finance its war.
The report highlights how the EU stepped up action to strengthen the competitiveness of its economy, through both the Single Market and the Competitiveness Compass, a strategic roadmap to drive economic growth while ensuring a fair and environmentally sustainable transition. 2025 also marked an important step forward in reducing unnecessary burdens on businesses, and the EU invested in the technologies that will shape the future, from artificial intelligence to clean energy. On the global stage, the EU remained the world's leading provider of humanitarian aid and continued to invest in reducing dependencies and strengthening global partnerships. In parallel, it stepped up efforts to boost its security, defence and preparedness with the Readiness 2030 package, the most significant increase in defence investment in EU history.
Through the Choose Europe initiative, the EU made headway in its efforts to position Europe as the best place in the world for science and research.
(For more information: Paula Pinho – Tel.: +32 2 292 08 15)
Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings
Note that these items can be subject to changes.
Upcoming events of the European Commission
Eurostat press releases
Calendar items of the President and Commissioners
Individual calendars of the President and Commissioners