On 4 March 2026, the European Commission adopted the European Union Ports Strategy and Industrial Maritime Strategy – two new strategies focussed on ports, shipping and shipbuilding.
By implementing these strategies, the EU plans to drive competitiveness, sustainability, decarbonisation, security and resilience in the EU’s wider waterborne sector.
Ports Strategy
The Ports Strategy supplements the 2013 Ports Policy and aims to establish a comprehensive framework for European Ports to assist with the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of EU ports and the wider European economy.
The Ports Strategy has identified five key pathways for which Member States to address the most pressing challenges facing ports:
- strengthening competitiveness, innovation, and digitalisation – by developing criteria for third-country investment, foreign ownership and introducing innovative technologies into European ports to support the green transformation;
- advancing energy transition, sustainability and clean industries – by accelerating the approval of permits for strategic projects, supporting electrification and the promotion of sustainability through energy co-cooperation partnerships;
- the protection and security of port infrastructure – by updating guidance on emerging threats, establishing frameworks for third country port assessments, employee background checks and the establishment of a Pan-European forum for Port and Cybersecurity officials to exchange information on best practice;
- increasing access to financing and investments – by supporting ports through targeted funding and facilitating access to advisory services and de-risking tools, focusing on small and medium sized ports as a priority; and
- the creation of social cohesion, skills and quality jobs – by underlining the significant role small and medium ports play in the European economy and supporting the development of a skilled workforce across all blue economy sectors.
Ireland’s update to its own National Ports Policy is expected to align closely with the Ports Strategy, ensuring that Irish ports remain integrated with the evolving priorities of European maritime policy, with key updates expected around climate resilience, port capacity, and offshore renewable energy project support.
This need for reform has been echoed at local level, with the Department of Transport publishing its Acceleration Infrastructure Report and Action Plan in December 2025 (the “Report”). The wide ranging Report identifies barriers to the delivery of critical infrastructure in Ireland, including:
- increased regulatory burden;
- insufficiently co-ordinated approvals;
- slow processes; and
- prioritisation and co-ordination of infrastructure projects.
In response to the Report, the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (“MARA”) published an action plan, Addressing Barriers to the Delivery of Critical Infrastructure identifying relevant actions that MARA will take in addressing the barriers to maritime development identified in the Report, including:
- enacting legislation to accelerate critical infrastructure and provide for emergency powers;
- progressing domestic reform to environmental assessment in parallel with the EU simplification agenda
- developing and publishing national planning statement(s) for critical infrastructure; and
- establishing a regulatory simplification unit.
Industrial Maritime Strategy
The Industrial Maritime Strategy is focussed on strengthening Europe’s shipping and shipbuilding industries to safeguard the EU’s economic security and strategic autonomy. To do this, the Industrial Maritime Strategy identifies three ‘key pillars’:
- strengthening the EU’s maritime manufacturing capabilities;
- enhancing competitiveness & sustainability of shipping;
- boosting naval & dual-use capabilities.
As part of the Industrial Maritime Strategy, in 2026 the EU Commission will establish an EU Industrial Maritime Value Chains Alliance focussed on strengthening European industrial sovereignty in key maritime sectors.
The EU Industrial Maritime Value Chains Alliance will bring together industry and public authorities to:
- align investment priorities across Member States;
- identify business cases for industrial activities in Europe and supplementary incentives to foster demand and synergies across the value chain in Europe;
- coordinate EU support mechanisms with national projects; and
- facilitate joint roadmaps and project pipelines.
Next steps
The Commission will establish a high-level Maritime Industries and Ports Board to implement the Ports and Industrial Maritime Strategies. The Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism will chair the board.
The update to Ireland’s National Ports Policy (the “Policy”) is expected to be published in the first half of 2026 following a round of stakeholder consultation.
Contact Us
For further information on the Strategies, the National Ports Policy or advice on how your business may be impacted, please contact Conor Blennerhassett or any member of our Energy, Infrastructure and Construction team.