The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) welcomes the Council’s adoption of conclusions on the EU Maritime Industrial Strategy and the EU Port Strategy, recognising their importance for strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, technological leadership and strategic autonomy.
The Council conclusions acknowledge many of the priorities long advocated by ETF, including investment in maritime skills, workforce development, industrial capacity, security and the resilience of critical infrastructure. They also recognise the strategic role that ports play in Europe’s economy, energy security and supply chains. These are important steps forward for Europe’s maritime future.
Workers must be at the heart of Maritime Industrial Policy
However, we stress that the success of both strategies will ultimately depend on whether workers are placed at their centre. While the Council rightly highlights labour shortages, skills challenges and the need for training, the social dimension remains insufficiently reflected throughout the conclusions.
For the maritime sector, ETF reiterates that quality jobs, fair wages, safe manning levels, effective enforcement of labour standards and collective bargaining are essential for a sustainable and competitive industry. Public support for shipbuilding and maritime investments should be linked to clear social conditionalities, ensuring quality employment, training opportunities and respect for collective agreements.
A just transition for Europe’s ports
In the port sector, ETF welcomes the focus on security, resilience, decarbonisation and digitalisation, but underlines that these transformations must go hand in hand with investment in people. Employment, skills, collective bargaining and social dialogue should become cross-cutting pillars of the EU Port Strategy. Technological change and automation must be accompanied by social impact assessments, training opportunities and just transition measures developed together with workers and their representatives.
Building on our initial reaction to the Commission’s proposals earlier this year, we call on European institutions and Member States to ensure that the implementation of both strategies delivers not only stronger infrastructure and industrial capacity, but also stronger protections and opportunities for workers.
European ports and maritime industries can only remain competitive, secure and future-proof if investment in infrastructure goes hand in hand with investment in people.
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