The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has favorably welcomed the draft parliamentary report on the future of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF III), prepared by co-rapporteurs Oihane Agirregoitia, representing the Transport Committee, and Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, for the Energy and Industry Committee, which will be debated at the joint meeting of both committees on April 15. ESPO has particularly valued the explicit recognition that the document grants to the strategic importance of European ports for the competitiveness and resilience of the European Union.
The draft report defines seaports as cross-border multimodal nodes that function not only as transport centers but also as platforms for trade, industrial clusters, military mobility, and energy nodes. This characterization recognizes the cross-border function of port infrastructures, an aspect that is also addressed in the annex of the regulation proposed by the European Commission.
The Secretary General of ESPO, Isabelle Ryckbost, has indicated that the draft "shows a good understanding of the strategic role of ports in the current geopolitical and geoeconomic environment." Ryckbost has noted that the organization supports the Commission's proposal and has expressed satisfaction in seeing that the co-rapporteurs "embrace the Commission's text and strengthen it even further." However, she warned that "the strength of the future CEF will depend on its budget" and urged member states to provide the mechanism with the necessary resources, considering that "investments in transport infrastructure and, in particular, in port infrastructures are key conditions to address Europe's challenges in terms of decarbonization, energy transition, security, and resilience."
ESPO supports the approach taken by the co-rapporteurs regarding the use of the CEF for military mobility, not only to support the 500 projects considered critical points but also to facilitate investments in those ports identified by their respective member states as dual-use strategic infrastructures. For the port organization, it is essential that ports lacking formal status within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) but are strategically important for military mobility can access CEF funding. In this regard, ESPO believes that the geostrategic criterion for ports, introduced in the latest revision of the TEN-T, should be systematically applied to incorporate these ports into the network, which would provide strategic recognition, certainty in long-term planning, and adequate support.
The organization has also valued the emphasis of the draft on transparency and predictability through multi-annual work programs that include the objectives of the calls, the political priorities addressed, indicative calendars, and budget allocations by sector. From ESPO's perspective, the allocation of differentiated budget amounts by transport mode, along with advance clarity on the priorities and timelines of the calls, is fundamental for applicants, including port authorities, to prepare their applications with greater anticipation and quality.
ESPO has also expressed its support for the draft proposal to ensure CEF funding for the maintenance of existing infrastructures, considering that preserving the performance and resilience of already constructed infrastructures is essential to ensure the longevity of the investments made.
Regarding cross-border energy infrastructures, the port organization has requested that the scope of the CEF include infrastructures for the transport of CO2, as it is a relevant element in the process of industrial decarbonization.