The European Ports Association ESPO has expressed serious concern about the postponement of the definition of the strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions decided at the end of the last meeting of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) held last week in London ( of 17 October 2025). The European Sea Ports Organisation considers that "This postponement is a missed opportunity to accelerate the transition of the sector towards clean fuels and fears that it will prolong fragmentation and unequal conditions deriving from regional regulations". In addition, ESPO has specified that "this decision is particularly disappointing, given the strong demands from the entire sector for a unified global approach'. In the opinion of the association, "the momentum was there, with a wide support for a framework that could provide clarity, predictability and a level playing field for all supply chain players maritime chain", while "the postponement risks undermining this rare moment of convergence and weakens credibility international climate leadership in the field of maritime transport'.

ESPO has nevertheless urged all stakeholders - governments, industry and civil society - not to lose faith in the process and continue to contribute constructively, by inviting in particular the global maritime community to engage to define a framework that is both ambitious and practicable.

Furthermore, in the absence of a global turning point at the moment, ESPO urged the European Commission to address the negative impacts of the measures of the on the dispersion of activities and the competitiveness, as - explained the association - in Waiting for possible alignment between EU and EU legislation future IMO challenges should be recognised and addressed market distortions that undermine the soundness of European ports.

ESPO has specified that it welcomes the new European Commission's strategy to shape a transition clean and resilient global environment, which aims to build political momentum climate action, supporting technology industries and expand global partnerships for value chains Sustainable. To pursue these objectives, the association of ports calls on the EU Commission to take concrete measures, including including the introduction of targeted tax exemptions for electricity used by ships at berth in ports and for fuels at zero carbon emissions such as green methanol, ammonia and to reduce operating costs and stimulate demand. In addition, ESPO proposes to use contributions and contracts of (CCfD) to bridge the price gap between fossil fuels and sustainable, especially in the early stages implementation, to use the revenues of the exchange system of EU emission allowances (ETS) to support infrastructure for the supply of clean fuels and for Ground-based energy supply (OPS), prioritising investments where they make the most sense, and to encourage the demand for clean fuels, removing uncertainty and making more attractive for fuel manufacturers and suppliers invest and increase capacity.