April BPO’s Board meeting and BPO in CEF coalition

In the beginning of April the BPO Board had a board meeting at the ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation) headquarters and a meeting with Ms Fotini Ioannidou, DG MOVE, European Commission.

Topics covered included:

• recent geopolitical impact on maritime safety (Red Sea, Black Sea)
• EU versus IMO policies towards GHG emissions, including ETS, Maritime Innovation Fund and technology development
• new TEN-T Policy

Thank you ESPO for your hospitality.

The transport sector is of strategic importance in responding to Europe’s geostrategic, environmental and capacity challenges. Recent and ongoing crises have proven once again that only with a strong, adaptable and innovative transport sector at its core, Europe will be able to respond effectively to massive disruptions, safeguard its supply chain sovereignty and ensure economic and societal growth and welfare. If Europe is to strengthen its resilience, be a leader in the shift to net-zero and finally, complete the Trans-European Transport Network, it must translate its words into deeds and reflect these ambitions in the new EU budget for transport.

That is why the next edition of CEF and the campaign #MoreEUbudget4transport were established.

This is the third time the CEF coalition was formed. The first CEF coalition was created in 2014, the second in 2019, and now – the third edition – in 2024. As in past editions, in light of the upcoming negotiations on the EU budget (next Multi-Annual Financial Framework – MFF), ESPO has taken the initiative to bring together all stakeholders of the transport sector, in order to collectively underline the need for more EU budget for transport.

Who are the members?

European transport organisations, representing European maritime and inland port authorities, airport operators, inland waterway, maritime, rail, road, air transport companies, infrastructure managers, operators, suppliers,port and logistic service providers, shippers, chambers of commerce and transport workers.

New organisations which joined in April (now there is 48 in total):

• ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers' Association)
• ALE (Federation of European Train Driver´s Unions)
• BPO (Baltic Ports Organization)
• ERIN (European Regions Research and Innovation Network)