The greening and digital transitions combined with the changing global political environment and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic create the perfect storm for Europe’s ports and the port industry. Ports are at the crossroads of these transitions and changing realities. How can port authorities best respond to these shifts? To what extent can they proactively set the course for a more sustainable, resilient and smart future? What has the COVID-19 pandemic revealed about the role of ports? What are the necessary conditions for ports to play their role as engines of growth and recovery?