Page 48 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2018 publication
P. 48
48 Autumn 2018 European Energy Innovation
SUSTAINABLE PORTS
Ports as spiders in building
the sustainable transport and
energy web
By Isabelle Ryckbost (pictured), Secretary General, European Sea Ports Organsiation
In the next weeks and months, Considering the budget constraints get support, we must see to what
European policy makers will be that result from the Brexit and the extent this budget can really be
intensively discussing at different many different policy challenges considered as an additional 20% for
levels and in different fora the with which transport has to compete, transport investments.
budget for the next financial period I think we should embrace the
2021-2027. The Commission tabled €24.1 billion that have so far been As concerns priorities, the
its general budget proposal, the reserved for transport. It remains Commission proposes to dedicate
so-called Multi-Annual Financial to be seen however how the new 40% of the transport budget to
Framework, on 2nd May, and clarified additional envelope of €6.5 billion horizontal priorities of which,
which envelope it is willing to reserve that has been foreseen for making investments in alternative fuel
for Transport. Beginning of June, the Europe’s transport infrastructure infrastructure and projects
Commission issued its “Connecting better prepared for the movement of enhancing the resilience of transport
Europe Facility II”, the proposal military transport and assets will be infrastructure to climate change
outlining the priorities for financing spent. Given the “dual use” criterion, are a substantial part. Moreover
transport, energy and telecom whereby only investments that serve consistency with the Union and
projects for the next years. both military and civil purposes will national energy and climate plans is
the common thread through the new
Connecting Europe facility proposal.
Like all other lines of the European
budget, 25% of the CEF expenditures
must support climate objectives.
European ports are facing huge
investments: The study “The
infrastructure investments and
financing challenge of European
ports”[1] commissioned by ESPO,
reveals that ports’ investment
needs amount to €48 billion for the
coming ten years. Even if investing in
basic infrastructure remains a first
priority, sustainability is becoming an
increasingly important driver of port
investments: the decarbonisation
agenda, building resilience to climate
change, the overall greening of
vessels, mitigation of air emissions,
increasing pressure from the city
obliging the port to move further
out and greening of hinterland
connections are all high on the
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