THE CEO of the port of Rotterdam Authority Allard Castelein is urging the European Union to free up more financial resources for infrastructure investments in ports and hinterland connections in its upcoming long-term budget.
Mr Castelein told delegates at the 15th ESPO conference: 'Solid infrastructure connections to and from ports and port-industrial complexes are of crucial importance for European prosperity and employment.'
One concrete programme the Port Authority CEO was referring to in this context is the expansion of the Connecting European Facility (CEF) to include European energy transition projects. This will ensure that ports remain future-proof, healthy and competitive, reported London's Air Cargo News.
With this recommendation, Mr Castelein joins ESPO and 40 partner organisations, who recently made a likeminded call in Ljubljana.
In addition, Mr Castelein drew attention to the challenges faced in the area of geopolitics, digitalisation and the energy transition. To realise the targets set out in the Paris Agreement, Mr Castelein called on ports to take their responsibility and show leadership.
'For a true, systemic change we need to do more,' he noted. 'In this major transition, we are completely dependent on each other. No organisation can realise the energy transition on its own. It requires us to all put sustainability high on the agenda. The need to make this energy transition is so urgent that in addition to collaboration and decisive action, we count on the EU and local authorities to offer generous support and constructive policies.'
Mr Castelein told delegates at the 15th ESPO conference: 'Solid infrastructure connections to and from ports and port-industrial complexes are of crucial importance for European prosperity and employment.'
One concrete programme the Port Authority CEO was referring to in this context is the expansion of the Connecting European Facility (CEF) to include European energy transition projects. This will ensure that ports remain future-proof, healthy and competitive, reported London's Air Cargo News.
With this recommendation, Mr Castelein joins ESPO and 40 partner organisations, who recently made a likeminded call in Ljubljana.
In addition, Mr Castelein drew attention to the challenges faced in the area of geopolitics, digitalisation and the energy transition. To realise the targets set out in the Paris Agreement, Mr Castelein called on ports to take their responsibility and show leadership.
'For a true, systemic change we need to do more,' he noted. 'In this major transition, we are completely dependent on each other. No organisation can realise the energy transition on its own. It requires us to all put sustainability high on the agenda. The need to make this energy transition is so urgent that in addition to collaboration and decisive action, we count on the EU and local authorities to offer generous support and constructive policies.'