Page 118 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - SEPT 2025
P. 118
Mobility & transport
Ports should invest in moving
forward towards sustainability
and resilience instead of having
to invest in (over)reporting and
finding their way through com-
plex procedures and legislation;
the best omnibus is the one that
aims at respecting a certain
regulatory hygiene when plan-
ning new legislative proposals.
Moreover, we believe that
inconsistencies between dif-
ferent legislations can delay
and even block high-added-
value projects in ports, thereby
hampering their energy transi-
tion and decarbonisation path.
Such inconsistencies have,
for instance, been identified
between the taxonomy legisla-
tion on the one hand and the cir-
cular economy or water frame-
work directives on the other.
Finally, we believe that per-
mitting procedures (including
appeal procedures) take too
long and procurement proce-
dures and requirements are
too complex, not always pro-
portionate to the goal that is
being pursued. As a result,
investors are discouraged,
and valuable projects risk being
Credit: EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET inland waterways, and road links shelved and funding being
remains crucial to enhancing blocked.
competitiveness. Furthermore, • The Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA)
we strongly support the new has correctly put its finger on the
approach to award TEN-T sta- problem, but it has yet to deliver.
tus to ports that serve as energy The EU’s ambitions to simplify
hubs or contribute to Europe’s and speed up permitting pro-
energy security, based on the cedures do not seem to have
new energy criterion. Cargo impacted the local, regional, and
volumes remain important, but national permitting processes.
are not the only way of assess- We believe that ports must be
ing the importance of ports. seen as “net-zero acceleration
The new criterion added to the areas”. Ports, being specific and
TEN-T guidelines, in addition to strategic areas of public interest
the throughput criterion, should for the energy transition and suit-
be fully implemented. able locations for net-zero indus-
• An “omnibus” for ports. We tries, should be considered under
welcome the current simplifi- a specific permitting ease pol-
cation efforts but find that this icy. Energy transition and clean
“start-stop” approach creates industry projects should be con-
significant uncertainty and sidered as “overriding public
unnecessary effort. A more interest” projects, which could
realistic approach from the then be assessed under a fast-
start would have avoided this. track procedure.
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