The Council of the European Union on Monday (8 June) adopted conclusions on the EU Maritime Industrial Strategy, reaffirming the vital role of Europe’s maritime manufacturing and shipping industries in strengthening the European Union’s competitiveness, resilience, economic security, defence readiness, economic prosperity, and decarbonisation ambitions.
"In the conclusions, member states recognise the maritime sector as a cornerstone of Europe's industrial base and stress its essential role in safeguarding supply chains, supporting the clean transition and strengthening the EU's technological leadership. They also acknowledge the diverse national, regional and local characteristics of maritime manufacturing and shipping industries across the Union and the different priorities of member states.The conclusions on the maritime industrial strategy are a significant step forward in recognising the strategic importance and global excellence of Europe's maritime industry. They demonstrate our shared vision and commitment to maintaining a strong, innovative and sustainable maritime sector that drives economic growth, ensures vital connectivity, strengthens our common security and plays a crucial role in our decarbonisation efforts." Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister of the Republic of Cyprus
The maritime industrial strategy is a structured action plan with the aim to strengthen Europe's maritime leadership by advancing high-tech shipbuilding and cutting-edge port equipment.
The Council notes that the European maritime manufacturing and shipping industries face growing challenges, including intensifying global competition, geopolitical tensions, strategic dependencies on third-country production, the need to accelerate decarbonisation and persistent labour and skills shortages. The conclusions adopted today set out key priorities to address these challenges.
Industrial sovereignty and competitiveness
The Council highlights Europe's strengths in shipbuilding and design, ship repair, conversion, maintenance, retrofitting, recycling, maritime equipment and ocean engineering. These capabilities are considered essential for the EU's prosperity, technological leadership, strategic autonomy and long-term resilience.
Member states express concern however about market distortions and unfair subsidisation practices by third countries that undermine fair competition. The Council therefore calls for an assessment of measures to strengthen the sector's competitiveness, including the effective use of existing trade defence instruments in line with international obligations. It also encourages investment aimed at reducing strategic dependencies and reinforcing critical industrial capacities.
Investment and innovation
The conclusions stress the importance of mobilising strategic investment across the maritime ecosystem, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. Member states support measures that accelerate the deployment of digital, clean and circular technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced sensing technologies, automation, robotics and smart maintenance solutions.
To expand Europe's capacity in advanced and low- and zero-emission vessels, the Council calls for increased investment in innovative shipbuilding technologies, clean propulsion systems and research and innovation. It also supports initiatives such as Shipyards of the future and the creation of an EU maritime industrial value chains alliance to help channel investment towards strategic priorities.
Decarbonisation and sustainability
The Council reaffirms the maritime sector's central role in achieving the EU's climate objectives and stresses that decarbonisation requires coordinated action across the entire waterborne value chain, including fuel producers and suppliers.
Member states call for the timely and coordinated deployment of sustainable maritime fuels and innovative low-emission technologies. They underline that the availability of safe, sustainable and competitively priced alternative fuels will be critical to accelerating their uptake.
The conclusions also recall the importance of using revenues generated under the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) for climate-related purposes. At the same time, they highlight the need to assess potential adjustments to the FuelEU maritime regulation, the MRV regulation and the maritime ETS framework to avoid overlapping costs and unnecessary administrative burdens, in the event of the adoption of global measures to reduce GHG emissions from shipping.
Security and resilience
The Council warns that maritime security challenges are increasing, including risks linked to the operation of shadow fleets and growing geopolitical instability.
Member states stress the need to strengthen the EU's resilience, preparedness and defence capabilities, including the protection of critical maritime infrastructure and the resilience of maritime supply chains. The conclusions also support a coordinated approach to developing dual-use infrastructure capable of serving both civilian and military purposes.
Skills and workforce
The Council notes that the maritime sector faces significant labour shortages, an ageing workforce and increasingly demanding working conditions, all of which affect its long-term competitiveness and resilience, and which was also the key objective of the Lefkosia declaration, which was adopted and signed by all member states at the informal TTE Council for maritime affairs held in Cyprus in April.
Member states therefore call for strengthened maritime education and training, including upskilling and reskilling initiatives. The conclusions encourage measures to attract more young people to maritime professions and support the development of a coordinated European initiative on maritime skills.
Background
On 4 March 2026, the European Commission presented its communication on the EU maritime industrial strategy, setting out a vision and action plan to strengthen Europe's maritime manufacturing and shipping industries, enhance innovation and safeguard global competitiveness.
Shipping and maritime industries are vital to the EU's economy and connectivity. The European maritime manufacturing sector is a global leader in complex and high-value shipbuilding, advanced maritime technologies and sustainable waterborne transport solutions. It is a key driver of innovation, regional industrial development and the blue economy. For example, 97% of the world's cruise ship fleet is built in Europe.
The EU shipping sector is also a leading global provider of maritime transport services. It plays a critical role in securing supplies of essential goods, facilitating international trade and supporting Europe's energy security. Together with other waterborne sectors, it generates demand for maritime manufacturing products and services while shaping the technological development of the wider maritime ecosystem.
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