To be future-fit, European ports need massive euro investments in the next decade: study

In late April 2024, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) launched the results of the ESPO Port Investment Study 2024. The study offers a comprehensive analysis of the investment pipeline and challenges of European ports. 

Specifically, the study revealed that the investment needs of European port managing bodies are very huge amounting to €80 billion for the next 10 years, up to 2034.

A second key finding is that investments in sustainability and energy transition are becoming the second most important investment category for port authorities. Yet, Ports in Europe do more than before. From being multimodal hubs in the supply chain linking the sea with the hinterland, ports are developing into hubs and facilitators of sustainable energies, clusters of industry and circular economy, as well as important pillars of geo-political and geo-economic resilience.The investment pipelines of Europe’s ports reflect changing and multidimensional role.

The study shows that next to investments in developing basic port infrastructure, port managing bodies are more and more investing to take up strategic and social responsibilities and achieving Europe’s ambitions. This often implies projects with a high societal value, yet slow, low and risky returns on investment.

Europe’s port managing bodies need European support to turn all goals and ambitions into a success.

These findings underline the need for dedicated port envelopes within the different EU funding instruments, in the first place through the Connecting Europe Facility, or a similar funding instrument.