The European Sea Ports Organisation has urged the European Commission to use its review of the EU Emissions Trading System for maritime transport to address business leakage, carbon leakage and pressure on European short sea shipping, according to ESPO.
The Brussels-based ports body said the regional scope of maritime ETS is hitting major Mediterranean transhipment ports hardest, with some ports seeing altered port-call orders, reduced direct connectivity with Asia and pressure on terminal capacity investment.
ESPO said capacity in neighbouring non-EU countries is rising, while some short sea shipping trades are facing cargo shifts back to road transport, which remains outside ETS until 2028.
The EU system applies ETS to 100% of emissions from voyages between EU ports and 50% of emissions from voyages starting or ending outside the EU.
ESPO Secretary General Isabelle Ryckbost said European policymakers “must finally draw the lessons” from the first years of application.
The organisation called for a global agreement followed by alignment of the EU system. Until then, it wants the EU to remove the 65% transhipment criterion used for the list of neighbouring container transhipment ports excluded from the definition of a port of call.
ESPO also opposes broadening the vessel scope, wants closer scrutiny of the impact on outermost regions and is seeking a larger share of maritime ETS revenues to be reinvested in the maritime and port sector.
The European Commission’s ETS review is expected to shape the system beyond 2030, including possible changes to scope, carbon leakage safeguards, the market stability reserve and the use of auctioning revenues.
The European Sea Ports Organisation represents European seaport authorities, port associations and port administrations in Brussels. It works with EU institutions on port, transport, energy, climate and regulatory policy.
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. It proposes EU legislation, implements EU policy and oversees the application of EU law with member states and other EU institutions.
