Reports and papers | 20 September 2024

Port politics: Strategic autonomy and European ports

By Xiaoxue Martin, Frans-Paul van der Putten

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In short

Foreign involvement in European seaports and logistics has increased, for example from countries like China
This negatively impacts the EU’s strategic autonomy
This report proposes a strategic policy framework for the EU and its Member States to better manage foreign involvement

European seaports and related logistics are a key part of international trade and logistics. In recent years, foreign involvement by third countries has gained greater significance in this sector, especially where China is concerned. The recent calls for a European port strategy in the European Parliament underline this. Individual Member States and the EU as a whole can actively influence future scenarios by managing the degree of foreign involvement in European seaports and logistics, with special attention for China’s influence. However, a lack of EU cooperation concerning foreign involvement negatively impacts the EU’s strategic autonomy. This limits control over future scenarios. The aim of this report is therefore to conceptualise an EU-wide policy framework for strengthening strategic autonomy in the domain of seaports and related logistics sector systems. China serves as a case study.

This study was conducted on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within the framework agreement for the Dutch China Knowledge Network (CKN).

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