Europe's ports are far more than transport infrastructure—they are strategic assets for territorial cohesion, resilience and competitiveness. This was the key message from Kevin Cauchi, Mayor of Għajnsielem (Gozo) and rapporteur of the European Committee of the Regions' opinion on the EU Port Strategy, during a debate on the European Commission's newly presented strategy.
Opening the discussion, Cauchi highlighted the essential role ports play in connecting island and peripheral communities to the rest of Europe. "For isolated, peripheral and island regions, maritime connectivity is never a matter of standard convenience. It is an absolute requirement for economic and social survival."
Drawing on the experience of his home island of Gozo, he stressed that ports should not be viewed solely as transport infrastructure but as strategic assets supporting the EU's economic security, competitiveness, defence, energy transition and territorial resilience. "Ports cannot just be perceived as transport infrastructure. They are strategic assets to the EU's economic security and competitiveness, nested in networks of global capital and green energy transition, national defence and overall territorial resilience."
Cauchi argued that the future of Europe's ports cannot be discussed in isolation from the territories that host them, calling for a genuinely territorial and place-based approach that fully recognises the realities of insularity and ensures no region is left behind.
The debate also featured an intervention from Noel Formosa, Vice-President of the Gozo Regional Council and Mayor of San Lawrenz, who welcomed the Commission's recognition of ports as strategic assets while stressing the unique challenges faced by island communities.
"As the representative of an island community, I warmly welcome the recognition that ports are not merely transport infrastructure but strategic assets for territorial cohesion and resilience."
Formosa underlined that, for islands, maritime connectivity is indispensable. "For islands, ports are not one option among many—they are our lifeline. The success of the EU Ports Strategy will ultimately depend on whether it adequately addresses the realities of insularity, including higher transport costs, dependence on maritime connections and the need for reliable year-round accessibility."
He encouraged the European Commission to introduce dedicated support for island ports. "I therefore encourage the Commission to consider dedicated support mechanisms for island ports, including funding for green transition measures, sustainable maritime links and enhanced connectivity within the TEN-T framework. A truly cohesive Europe must ensure that no island is left behind."
The discussion underscored the importance of ensuring that Europe's maritime policy strengthens territorial cohesion while supporting competitiveness, resilience and the green transition across all regions, particularly islands and geographically constrained territories.
Background
The European Commission's EU Port Strategy provides a comprehensive framework to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and sustainability of Europe's ports. The strategy brings together existing policies on transport, energy, security, industrial policy and cohesion.
The strategy is built around five key pillars:
• competitiveness and digitalisation;
• security and resilience;
• social cohesion and skills;
• financing and cohesion; and
• the energy transition.
The European Committee of the Regions is preparing an opinion on the strategy under the rapporteurship of Kevin Cauchi, Mayor of Għajnsielem (Malta). The opinion is scheduled for adoption by the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER) on 17–18 September 2026, before its final adoption at the European Committee of the Regions plenary session on 2–3 December 2026.
