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Ports and Maritime Industrial Strategies
In March 2026 the European Commission published two complimentary strategies shaping EU maritime policy: the Ports Strategy and the Industrial Maritime Strategy. The Ports Strategy is aimed at developing the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of Europe’s ports. The Industrial Maritime Strategy positions maritime manufacturing and shipping as strategic sectors for EU autonomy, resilience, economic security, and decarbonisation. Together, they form an integrated vision on the EU’s maritime sector as a key industrial sector, and its importance in Europe’s strategic autonomy, critical supply chains, and clean energy transition. The Ports Strategy proposes actions around five pillars:
Strengthening competitiveness, innovation and digitalisation; developing criteria and guiding principles for EU funding and investments in third-country ports, as well as guidance on foreign ownership and control for ports identified as strategic dual-use infrastructure. In addition, the Commission will promote digital and green transformations by supporting innovation and the scale-up and adoption of new technologies.
Advancing energy transition, sustainability and clean industries by accelerating permit-granting and faster assessment procedures for strategic energy and environmental port projects, linking it with the upcoming Electrification Action Plan. Additionally, the Commission will promote partnerships for energy cooperation in and around port areas to encourage the sustainable use of energy, including hydrogen.
Protect and secure ports by enhancing port security through updating guidance on emerging threats, promoting a global level playing field, and establishing frameworks for third-country port assessments, background checks, and improved customs controls to combat drug trafficking. Additionally, a forum for Member States’ cybersecurity and port authorities will be created to share best practices, and an EU-wide security risk assessment will identify and address the most urgent cybersecurity risks.
Access to finance and investments by supporting ports with clear and targeted funding principles aimed at improving the coordination and efficiency of EU financing, building on existing EU funding instruments such as the Connecting Europe Facility, Cohesion Policy funds and InvestEU. In addition to facilitating access to advisory services and de-risking tools, paying particular attention to the needs of small and medium-sized ports.
Social cohesion, skills and quality jobs; the Strategy recognises the vital role of small and medium-sized ports, setting out targeted initiatives in innovation, clean energy, security, and connectivity to support their development. Furthermore, the Commission will promote a skilled next-generation workforce across blue economy sectors, focusing on upskilling, reskilling, and inclusion through the Blue Generational Renewal Strategy and a new Pact for Skills for the ports sector.
The Industrial Maritime Strategy is focused on three pillars:
Reinforcing Europe’s maritime manufacturing capabilities and technological leadership to leverage the waterborne single market. This pillar includes actions designed to foster EU industrial sovereignty and create synergies across the maritime value chain. To this end, the Commission will launch an EU Industrial Maritime Value Chain Alliance.
Strengthening the competitiveness, sustainability and connectivity of maritime transport by simplifying administrative procedures, reinforcing EU engagement on IMO global maritime standards, and the use of current state aid guidelines for maritime transport.
Bolstering Europe’s naval, underwater, dual-use, and military mobility capabilities.
What’s in it for hydrogen?
The Ports Strategy positions ports as critical infrastructure: not only as transport nodes, but as industrial and energy hubs central to clean fuels deployment, supply chain security, and geopolitical positioning.
Ports have a key role as multi-fuel hubs for sustainable maritime fuels (SMF). The Commission backs clean fuel infrastructure investment and renewable energy in third countries. Energy partnerships around ports will focus on sustainable use, including hydrogen.
The Industrial Maritime Strategy aims to mobilise EU, national, and private funding to support investments in fleet decarbonisation, leveraging existing funds such as the Connecting Europe Facility, Innovation Fund, Horizon Europe, and national ETS revenues. It also makes hydrogen technologies explicitly eligible under CISAF state aid.
Links to Legislation and additional information:
Communication on the EU Ports Strategy
