Photo credit: Cyprus shipping deputy ministry
Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Italy signed a joint declaration in Limassol on September 9 to coordinate positions on shipping competitiveness and decarbonisation in Brussels and at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
The four countries, which together control a significant portion of the EU fleet, have committed to closer coordinate on the ongoing developments at EU and IMO concerning the decarbonization of shipping, including the EU Emissions Trading System and the IMO Net-Zero Framework.
They called for “the widest possible consensus in developing realistic, globally applicable and cost-effective measures” for shipping, consumers and businesses.
The declaration was signed by Cyprus shipping deputy minister to the president Marina Hadjimanolis, Greek minister of maritime affairs and insular policy Vasilis Kikilias, Malta’s minister for sustainable mobility Chris Bonett, and by Italian deputy minister of infrastructure and transport Edoardo Rixi. Hadjimanolis chaired the 9th Tripartite Meeting, with Rixi participating by teleconference.
During the meeting, the ministers exchanged views on the current challenges that international shipping faces, especially in light of recent geopolitical developments, giving particular attention to the need of safeguarding the competitiveness of EU shipping.
The ministers have also agreed to stress the importance of safe and secure maritime routes, freedom of navigation and international cooperation, the seafarer safety and welfare, and to support the work of IMO in developing effective and globally applicable measures.
The Greek minister said the discussions on European competitiveness in shipping were closely linked to the wider economy.
Photo credit: Cyprus shipping deputy ministry
At the joint press conference that followed, Kikilias stated: “It is very important for us, after a path of continuous efforts, to unite our voices in everything that has to do with European shipping, which is directly related to the European economy.”
As he underlined, shipping handles around 90% of the global trade. Kikilias said the competitiveness of the sector is directly linked to the European and global economy, as trade transported by sea affects energy prices, products and food.
The minister pointed out that the enormous instability, problems, wars and conflagrations in the surrounding areas create additional difficulties for global shipping. These challenges, he added, “should lead us to a very prudent, realistic, substantive policy, so that we can do our duty.”
In this context, he stressed that Europe’s task is not limited to short-term policies for the daily lives of citizens, but also includes medium- and long-term planning.
In closing, he described today as particularly important and expressed the belief that other EU member states will join the effort. “I believe that other countries, members of the European Union, will also come and align with realism and common sense,” he said, concluding that this is “a time when we must protect our people and economies.”
