The European Federation of Private Port Operators (FEPORT) has analyzed the current situation within the framework of the debates for the revision of the emission trading system (ETS) regime, for which the regulatory proposal from the European Commission is expected in July 2026. The organization took note of the high-level roundtable organized by the European Commission on May 12, a meeting that brought together institutional representatives and industry agents with the aim of exchanging perspectives on the evolution of this environmental regulation.
Given the strategic role that port facilities and terminal operators play in trade, connectivity, and decarbonization processes on the continent, FEPORT considers it necessary that the operational and investment realities of the sector are reflected in the ongoing negotiations. The upcoming modification of the ETS regulation is presented as a key element for the maritime policy of the European Union, needing to respond to the needs of the logistics terminals, which directly manage commercial flows and the demands for emission reductions.
The federation supports the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and notes that companies in the sector are already making investments in decarbonization, electrification, digitalization, and energy efficiency, including the implementation of onshore power supply (OPS) systems and other clean technologies. However, the organization maintains that the effectiveness of climate policy must be evaluated in relation to its operational and economic consequences, which means that the regulatory review offers an option to examine the impact of the system on the European logistics fabric.
From a sectoral perspective, ports operate as essential economic platforms for trade, energy supply, and connectivity. A decrease in traffic volumes or the diversion of activities to distribution centers in neighboring third countries may affect both the competitiveness of community terminals and the stability of the supply chains of the European Union.
In this context, FEPORT requests that the future regulation specifically allocates a portion of the revenues generated by the ETS system to support the decarbonization and electrification of port infrastructures. These contributions are considered necessary to maintain the position of community ports against the competition from third country enclaves operating under less stringent environmental regulations. The organization also demands coherence among the different European initiatives aimed at accelerating the energy transition, requesting that the Action Plan for Electrification speeds up the permitting process, electricity storage capacity, and priority access to the electrical grid.
The Secretary General of FEPORT, Lamia Kerdjoudj, has noted that the transfer of transshipment operations to external ports of the European Union affects commercial activity, employment, and the connectivity of the community industry. According to the representative, current and future investments in terminals located in adjacent areas outside the European Union, which are not subject to the maritime ETS levies, exert commercial pressure on European facilities. Kerdjoudj added that the recent European Union Ports Strategy recognizes the issues arising from the impact of the ETS and concluded that the regulatory review should channel financial resources to port facilities to support their energy transition.