{"id":16537,"date":"2026-04-27T07:17:51","date_gmt":"2026-04-27T06:17:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.danubecommission.org\/dc\/?p=16537"},"modified":"2026-05-13T12:04:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T11:04:29","slug":"new-eu-ports-strategy-and-greener-safer-danube-ports-take-center-stage-at-sixth-em-ports-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.danubecommission.org\/dc\/en\/2026\/04\/27\/new-eu-ports-strategy-and-greener-safer-danube-ports-take-center-stage-at-sixth-em-ports-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"New EU Ports Strategy and Greener, Safer Danube Ports Take Center Stage at Sixth EM PORTS Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"

The sixth Expert Meeting on the Development of Ports and Port Operations (EM PORTS) took place on 23 April 2026 in Ruse, Bulgaria. Opened by Mr. Dimitar Nedyalkov, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, and Ms. Anna Natova, Director of Projects Management Directorate at BPI Co, and moderated by Mr. Manfred Seitz, Director-General of the DC Secretariat, the event drew more than 70 participants from Danube states, international organizations and European port experts.<\/p>\n

The first part of the meeting focused on the political framework for Danube ports. Mr. Mutien Marchandise, Expert from DG MOVE\/D3 of the European Commission, presented the new European Port Strategy<\/a>, published by the European Commission on 4 March 2026 as a comprehensive framework for enhancing the competitiveness, resilience, safety and sustainability of European ports. Representatives from DG MOVE and DG HOME addressed the need for strengthening security on the Danube and in Danube ports within the current geopolitical context, as well as combating organized crime in ports through the public-private partnership \u2018European Ports Alliance<\/a>\u2019. Mr. Turi Fiorito reflected on current and future EU policy initiatives from the perspective of the European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP).<\/p>\n

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The DTLF<\/a> process and the eFTI regulation<\/a>, entering full effect on 9 July 2027 were examined in the second part of the meeting. HAROPA Port (France) addressed cybersecurity for inland ports, while host BPI Co. showcased advances in BULRIS, COMEX 2, the EURIS portal, and electronic reporting in Bulgaria. A panel chaired by Mr. Dejan Trifunovic (DC Secretariat) addressed how a company ecosystem can be created in which port employees support digitalization and automation and concluded that targeted training is essential to build workforce confidence in digitization and automation, citing Germany\u2019s \u201cPortSkill 4.0\u201d project as a leading example.<\/p>\n

In the third part of the meeting, speakers reviewed progress on climate targets and the energy transition in inland ports. The Port of Enns and the Port of Mannheim presented their greening strategies, while tools from the \u2018Green Inland Ports\u2019 (GRIP)<\/a> study have been successfully implemented at the Port of Vukovar.<\/p>\n

The final part of the meeting focused on ongoing cooperation activities, presentations on port-related initiatives by the Transport Community Secretariat (TCT), and on the project for the reconstruction and expansion of capacity at the Port of Prahovo (Republic of Serbia). Representatives of Ukraine from USPA outlined Danube port operations under wartime conditions; UKRPORT informed about its plan to organize, together with the DC Secretariat, a joint workshop promoting the Danube as a heavy-cargo corridor for Ukraine\u2019s reconstruction.<\/p>\n

In a highlight of the meeting, DC Director-General Manfred Seitz presented the commemorative medal to Ms. Venetka Serafimova, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Port Complex Ruse JSCo, marking 160 years of the port\u2019s operation.<\/p>\n

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Next Meeting:<\/strong> The seventh EM PORTS, combined with a joint workshop on heavy-cargo transport for Ukraine\u2019s reconstruction, is scheduled for 31 March – 1 April 2027.<\/p>\n

Presentations<\/strong>:<\/p>\n