The European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) welcomes the development of a European Port Strategy and urges policymakers to fully integrate the role of inland ports as key enablers of green logistics, climate adaptation, and strategic mobility.
Representing 200 inland ports across 19 EU Member States and beyond, EFIP calls for a forward-looking strategy that reflects the critical contribution of inland ports to the European Green Deal, Clean Industrial Deal, and TEN-T priorities.
Key Recommendations Include:
• Streamlining Permitting: Accelerated and harmonised permitting processes are essential to enable timely infrastructure investments.
• Reducing Administrative Burdens: Inland ports—often publicly owned and modest in size—need proportionate reporting requirements under CSRD and related regulations.
• Improving Funding Access: EFIP urges the creation of a dedicated Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) envelope for small and medium-sized projects, alongside greater transparency in the selection process.
• Enhancing Climate Resilience: Ports face growing climate risks, including droughts and flooding. The Port Strategy must provide guidance on climate adaptation and resilience-building.
• Strengthening Military Mobility & Security: Inland ports are vital for European defence logistics. EFIP calls for early consultation on dual-use infrastructure and stronger cybersecurity and physical security guidelines. (....)