SIDE EVENT: DECARBONISING PORTS AND SHIPPING LANES IN THE EUROPEAN MARITIME SPACE

The maritime sector is entering a decisive decade for climate action and safeguarding Europe’s competitiveness. At the 2026 European Maritime Day (EMD) in Limassol, the European Maritime Space (EMS) workshop will explore how to connect the practical implementation of decarbonisation in ports with the development of green intra-EU shipping lanes that can support the scaling up of alternative fuels, electrification, and smart energy systems.

By fostering collaboration between infrastructure managers, port authorities, and other stakeholders across the energy transition and regional cooperation, the event will identify practical steps to strengthen the EMS’s role as a driver of sustainable maritime connectivity. The objective is not only to share experiences, but also to foster structured cooperation that can accelerate deployment, enhance interoperability, and support the implementation of EU climate and transport policies across European sea basins.

AGENDA

• 13:50 – 14:00 Opening and welcome by Gesine Meissner, European Coordinator for the European Maritime Space

• 14:00 – 14:55  From strategy to implementation: concrete experiences and key achievements in port decarbonisation and the development of green shipping corridors

• 14:55 – 15:15 Coffee break

• 15:15 – 15:20 Keynote speech by Fotini Ioannidou, Director Waterborne DG MOVE

• 15:20– 16:30 From pilots to scale : a forward-looking discussion on overcoming barriers and aligning action across the European Maritime Space moderated by Anika Kroon, Head of Unit Maritime Transport and Logistics - DG MOVE