Commission publishes state-of-play on EU Maritime Transport Strategy

The European Commission publishes today a mid-term report on the implementation of its European Maritime Transport Strategy until 2018. The report describes actions undertaken in the areas of safety and security, digitalisation, environmental sustainability and decarbonisation and the maritime profession, as well as in the international sphere. In each of these areas the report explains the next steps: for instance the actions taken at European and international level on passenger ship safety, work in progress to put in place an EU maritime single window and the efforts to agree on robust global mechanisms to curb the greenhouse gas emissions of international shipping.

Taking into consideration the challenging economic circumstances the sector faces today and the fierce global competition, the report also highlights the necessity of dialogue and mutual cooperation between the stakeholders and administrations. With this report the Commission also announces the launch of a comprehensive evaluation exercise of EU maritime legislation to ascertain whether this remains fit for purpose or adjustments have to be made within any of the five focus areas described.

The report builds on a broad consultation of stakeholders, in particular through the http://ec.europa.eu/transport/node/3781{Mid-Term Review of the EU Maritime Transport Strategy as Link} (Consultation period: 28/01/2015 – 22/04/2015)