Dear friends of Europe’s ports, dear colleagues,

As we enter 2026, I would like to extend my warmest New Year wishes to the family of European ports, port professionals, and port communities as well as the representatives from the Commission, Parliament and Council and our colleagues representing the different transport and maritime organisations.

Ports have always been places of continuity amid change, and rarely has that been more evident than in the times we are living through.

The year ahead will again test our resilience and our unity. Geopolitical uncertainty remains a defining feature of our operating environment. First and foremost, we must reiterate our hope—and our insistence—that the war in Ukraine comes to an end. Ports feel the consequences of conflicts immediately and tangibly, long before statistics catch up.

At the same time, the global trading system is under strain. The return of tariff wars and protectionist reflexes threaten the very openness that has allowed European ports to thrive as gateways to the world. Add to this the growing frustration with the lack of progress at international level—most notably the failure so far to agree on robust and effective emission regulations at the IMO.

Yet, ports have never been strangers to rough seas. As the old maritime proverb reminds us, “a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” Europe’s ports have proven time and again that they can navigate complexity, adapt to changing tides, and keep trade moving even when the weather turns foul.

In 2026, strengthening the competitiveness of Europe’s ports must remain our shared priority. This is not about competition between ports, but about ensuring that the European port system as a whole remains efficient, resilient, sustainable, and attractive in a rapidly changing global landscape. It is also about giving ports in Europe the tools to help Europe to be more competitive and resilient in today’s geo-political and -economic landscape. No single port, however large or advanced, can address today’s challenges alone. Together at ESPO we represent an unmatched concentration of expertise, operational know-how, and practical experience.

This is why it is essential that we actively contribute to shaping the future EU Ports Strategy. Ports are not just stakeholders to be consulted; we are partners in delivery. Policymakers always need the operational reality from the quayside, the control room, and the hinterland connection. Whether it is decarbonisation, energy transition, security and military mobility, or investment certainty, we have solutions to offer—grounded on practice, not on theory.

And while the agenda ahead is serious, let us not lose our sense of perspective—or humour. After all, ports know better than most that plans rarely survive first contact with the tide tables, and that even the best strategy occasionally needs a tugboat to get back on course.

I am confident that, by working together, sharing experience, and speaking with a clear and united voice, Europe’s ports will continue to be anchors of stability and engines of prosperity for our continent.

May 2026 bring calmer seas, fair winds, and—when needed—the collective strength to weather the storms.

Ansis Zeltiņš
Chair of ESPO

Source, ESPO