On 4 March 2026, the European Commission adopted a new EU Ports Strategy, setting out a framework to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of Europe’s ports. The strategy comes at a time when ports are expected to do much more than handle cargo: they are increasingly being asked to expand capacity, support clean energy deployment, digitalise operations, reinforce security and contribute to Europe’s economic resilience at the same time.
Why ports matter
Ports remain a cornerstone of the European economy. According to the Commission, EU ports facilitate around 74% of the EU’s external trade, handle more than 3.4 billion tonnes of goods and nearly 395 million passengers annually, and support around 423,000 direct jobs. The strategy also underlines their wider role as gateways for trade, lifelines for islands and outermost regions, and critical infrastructures for energy supply, defence, logistics and territorial cohesion.
The scale of the system is also significant. The infographic accompanying the strategy highlights 550 TEN-T ports across Europe, including 327 maritime ports, 223 inland ports, 99 island ports and 26 ports in outermost regions.
A broader role for ports
A central message of the strategy is that ports are no longer seen only as transport interfaces. The Commission describes them as increasingly important multi-functional industrial hubs, hosting innovation, clean energy activities, logistics functions and new business opportunities. At the same time, they face growing exposure to organised crime, cyber threats, geopolitical pressure, foreign influence risks and competition from third-country ports. (....)