EU ministers have signed the Szczecin Declaration on the EU maritime industrial strategy during the 11th International Maritime Congress in Poland. In addition to measures supporting the transition to sustainable maritime fuels, the Declaration signals that Europe does not need protectionist measures and recognizes the strategic role of European shipping for the continent’s energy, food, and supply chain security.
The Declaration highlights the need to safeguard the international competitiveness of European shipping through a level playing field and a fit-for-purpose regulatory and taxation framework. It also underlines the importance of international conventions such as those agreed in ILO and IMO to ensure a global level playing field.
Member states called for regulatory action on fuel supply, recognizing that decarbonization depends on the contribution of fuel producers and suppliers. European shipowners consider the introduction of a binding mandate on suppliers to produce and make available the fuels necessary for the energy transition of shipping,
The Declaration also suggests concrete measures to de-risk investment in clean fuels in Europe under the upcoming Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP). European shipowners firmly support the use of the EU and national ETS revenues for bridging the enormous price gap with clean fuels.
Access to public and private finance is also highlighted as crucial to deliver on the green transition. The Member States also recognize the adverse effect of the stringent Basel rules (prudential requirements) on ship finance and SME companies, which are the backbone of European shipping.
“The Szczecin Declaration puts the competitiveness of European shipping at the centre of the European maritime industrial strategy,” said Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of the European Shipowners | ECSA.
