European Parliament calls for scaling green port infrastructure

The European Parliament has adopted the "Berendsen report", which calls for increased investments in EU port infrastructure to bolster the green transition.

PHOTO: European Parliament headquarters in Strasbourg, France. Getty Images

The report highlights the crucial role that ports will play in the EU's aim to import 10 million mt/year of green hydrogen by 2030. To facilitate these imports, the EU must adopt a strategy to enhance port infrastructure, it finds.

It stresses the importance of expediting port infrastructure projects linked to hydrogen to support the EU's energy transition goals. Excessive red tape should be avoided when developing an EU port strategy, it notes.

It calls out the European Commission (EC) to map out ports where onshore power supply and alternative fuels are available in the EU. By mapping out the ports, EU member states and the EC can work to develop port infrastructure, such as bunkering of alternative fuels.

The EU should work to establish a port strategy that reduces the influence that foreign countries can excert over EU ports. With over 22 European ports currently in Chinese ownership, it is crucial for EU member states to retain control of these ports, Berendsen said.

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) welcomed the report.

“This Parliament report is a strong document. It comes at a right time,” ESPO’s secretary general Isabelle Ryckbost said.

The Parliament report will now be forwarded to the EC, which will use it as a basis for the port strategy it will present later this year.

By Nithin Chandran

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