The European Commission, together with EIB Advisory, has launched a new capacity‑building initiative to support the effective implementation of the EU Ports Strategy, helping ports across Europe strengthen their preparedness for future challenges related to competitiveness, sustainability and security.
The initiative aims to provide targeted advisory support to ports and public authorities, focusing on improving strategic planning, investment readiness and project implementation. Through dedicated technical assistance, the programme will help ports translate EU policy objectives into concrete, bankable actions aligned with the priorities of the EU Ports Strategy.
The capacity‑building support will focus in particular on:
strengthening planning and governance frameworks for ports;
supporting sustainable and resilient port investments, including energy transition and decarbonisation objectives;
improving access to funding and financing instruments, notably EU and EIB‑backed tools; and
enhancing skills and technical expertise at local and regional level.
This initiative complements the EU Ports Strategy adopted in March 2026, which sets out a common vision to modernise European ports and reinforce their role as strategic nodes for trade, energy security and industrial competitiveness.
For the Atlantic Sea Basin, the initiative is highly relevant given the strategic role of Atlantic ports in supporting maritime trade, offshore renewable energy deployment, blue economy activities and territorial cohesion. Strengthened advisory support will contribute to ensuring that ports of different sizes and capacities can actively engage in the EU’s green and digital transitions.
By combining policy guidance with hands‑on technical assistance, the European Commission and EIB Advisory seek to empower ports to deliver resilient, future‑proof investments and reinforce Europe’s maritime infrastructure in a changing global context.