The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have launched a new advisory program that will allow small and medium-sized ports in the European Union to develop the necessary investment cases to improve their heavy cargo infrastructure and their project cargo handling capacity. The JASPERS initiative (Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions) will provide technical and financial support to these port facilities throughout the community territory, helping them prepare viable infrastructure projects aligned with the recently presented EU Port Strategy.
Unlike other community programs, this scheme does not include direct funding, but instead focuses on the initial phases of project development, including feasibility studies, compliance with environmental requirements, and financial structuring. These areas have traditionally limited the ability of regional ports to access European Union transport funds, as many of them lack the necessary technical resources to develop large-scale infrastructure proposals.
The program will be executed through the advisory services of the European Investment Bank and aims to help ports develop projects capable of obtaining support from mechanisms such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), cohesion funds, and financing from the EIB itself. The initiative will enable these port facilities to overcome the technical and administrative barriers that have thus far hindered their access to community financial instruments.
Many secondary European ports lack the necessary technical resources to develop large-scale infrastructure proposals, especially regarding specialized facilities such as heavy cargo docks, storage areas for oversized loads, and reinforced cargo infrastructure. The advisory support offered by JASPERS will enable these ports to design improvements capable of handling project cargo related to the development of offshore wind energy, the transport of industrial equipment, and projects related to energy transition.
This initiative is part of the EU Port Strategy presented by the European Commission at the beginning of this month, which aims to strengthen European ports as critical nodes for trade, energy, and industrial supply chains. The strategy emphasizes the need for ports to expand their capacity while adapting to security pressures and the requirements of the ongoing energy transition across the continent.
Under this strategy, the European Commission is also developing a roadmap specifically focused on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized ports, recognizing their role in maintaining regional connectivity and supply chain resilience. Smaller ports play an essential role in numerous European regions, ensuring access to international markets for territories that do not have large port infrastructures.
The ongoing energy transition in Europe is generating an increasing demand for specialized capabilities in ports for handling large components, such as wind turbine blades, sections of wind towers, transformers, and other heavy industrial equipment. Ports with the appropriate infrastructure to manage this type of cargo will be able to position themselves as strategic points in the logistics chains of renewable energy projects.
The JASPERS program will facilitate regional ports' ability to compete for project cargo and logistics linked to energy transition, helping them transform their infrastructure ambitions into financeable projects. Technical assistance will include guidance on the requirements that projects must meet to access various European financing instruments, as well as support in preparing the necessary documentation.
Heavy cargo docks require specific technical specifications, including load capacities exceeding those of conventional docks, reinforced mooring systems, and suitable access for the overland transport of oversized loads. The investments needed to equip a port with these capabilities often prove inaccessible for smaller facilities without public financing support.
The development of offshore wind energy in European waters is generating opportunities for ports that can serve as logistical bases for the construction, installation, and maintenance of wind farms. The components of offshore wind turbines have progressively increased in size in recent years, which requires ever more specialized port infrastructures.
The EU Port Strategy recognizes that the European port system must adapt to the new requirements of international trade and energy transition. Small and medium-sized ports, which represent a significant part of the community port network, need to access resources that allow them to modernize their facilities and compete in high value-added market segments.
The JASPERS program is presented as a tool to bridge the gap between the investment needs of regional ports and the financing instruments available at the European level. If the initiative proves successful, it could facilitate the emergence of a new generation of regional ports capable of participating in the logistics chains of energy transition and project cargo transport.