KVNR-Board in Brussels
Importance of Brussels
Last week, the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners' (KVNR) board's annual working visit to Brussels took place. Over two days, the board spoke to various European stakeholders to highlight the importance of the shipping industry to the European economy.
Brussels may sometimes seem far away, but it is precisely the place where many maritime-relevant laws and regulations are discussed and formed. For the KVNR it is very important to be actively involved in this.
Day 1: Diner with ECSA
The visit began with an informal dinner, joined by Sotiris Raptis, Katalin Dobránszky-Bartus and Luisa Puccio of the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) ECSA (European Community Shipowners' Associations) is an umbrella organization representing European shipping companies. It advocates for the maritime industry's interests at the European Union and other international organizations. ECSA promotes safe, sustainable, and competitive shipping and lobbies for policies that positively impact the sector. .
Day 2: European Commission and European Parliament
Formal talks were scheduled on the second day. The board met Fotini Ioannidou, director of DG Move, and Annika Kroon, head of the Maritime Transport and Logistics Unit within DG Move. This conversation provided the KVNR with an opportunity to discuss key challenges and opportunities for the maritime sector in Europe, such as the availability of clean fuels and innovative technologies.
The DG Move conversation was followed by two valuable meetings with Tom Berendsen (CDA) and Jeannette Baljeu (VVD). Closing the day with talks at the European Parliament once again underlined the importance of strong cooperation between the shipping industry and European decision-makers.
Conclusions and Key Discussions
The working visit provided a number of important insights into the position of European shipping and the challenges facing the sector. Below are the key conclusions:
Cooperation within the European Union and with international partners is crucial for an effective industrial policy. Only by working together can Europe meet the challenges of the future.
Investment in the maritime cluster is needed to maintain the sector's strength. Through targeted investment in innovation and infrastructure, Europe can strengthen its position in global shipping.
European shipping remains an essential pillar for transporting energy, raw materials and food, among other things. This role is recognised by policymakers and should be further strengthened.
Topics Discussed
The following topics were discussed in detail during the various meetings:
Europe's new industrial policy
Improving access to finance for the maritime sector
Scaling up innovative technologies within the maritime sector
Increasing the availability of clean fuels
Concerns about increasing protectionism within global trade
Maintaining shipping as a strategic sector within the EU
Looking ahead to 2025
The KVNR board looks back on a successful and valuable working visit. The open and constructive dialogues with our interlocutors led to a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities for the maritime sector in Europe. The date for the 2025 working visit is already in our calendar, and we look forward to representing the interests of the Dutch shipping industry in Brussels next year as well.
