The president of the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA), Gerardo Landaluce, has been re-elected vice-president of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) for a second two-year term, covering the period 2026–2028. The decision was made this Tuesday, November 10, during the organisation’s General Assembly in Brussels, which also renewed its senior leadership positions.
Alongside Landaluce, the General Assembly confirmed Ansis Zeltiņš as ESPO president and Cédric Virciglio as second vice-president, so all three will remain at the helm of the organisation for the next two years.
The leadership renewal ensures continuity with the team elected in November 2024, when Landaluce first took up one of ESPO’s vice-presidencies. Since then, the APBA president has been part of the leadership of the organisation responsible for representing the interests of European seaports before EU institutions.
During the 2024–2026 term, the organisation has focused its institutional work on issues related to port competitiveness, sustainability, the energy transition, security, and the resilience of maritime infrastructure. These areas will continue to feature on ESPO’s agenda for the new term.
Following his re-election, Ansis Zeltiņš thanked the organisation’s members for the confidence they had placed in both his presidency and the two vice-presidents, Gerardo Landaluce and Cédric Virciglio.
The ESPO president said that the leadership team, together with the Secretariat General, would continue working to ensure that the organisation remains the leading interlocutor for European ports in Brussels, regardless of their location, characteristics, or size.
Zeltiņš also referred to the need to maintain cooperation among European port authorities and to act in a coordinated manner in response to the challenges facing the sector.
During the General Assembly, ESPO members were also informed of the composition of the Executive Committee and the various technical committees for the 2026–2028 term. These bodies contribute to developing the organisation’s positions on European policies related to port activity.
The meeting in Brussels also approved the admission of the Icelandic Ports Association as a full member of ESPO, after it had previously participated in the organisation as an observer.
The decision concludes a process initiated by the Icelandic association, whose board unanimously approved the membership application on May 29. After receiving the backing of ESPO’s Executive Committee, the membership was formally ratified by the General Assembly.
With its new status, the Icelandic Ports Association will be able to participate fully in the organisation’s work and decision-making processes. Its representative on the Executive Committee will be Gunnar Tryggvason, CEO of Ports of Faxaflói and a member of the Icelandic association’s board.
Tryggvason said that membership would enable Icelandic ports to take part more fully in European discussions and bring the North Atlantic perspective to work on port sustainability, efficiency, and resilience.
