The European Commission has formally adopted the Industrial Maritime Strategy. This strategy outlines an extensive framework designed to enhance competitiveness, foster innovation and secure technological leadership across Europe’s maritime manufacturing and shipping sectors. The Industrial Maritime Strategy also presents both a long-term vision and a defined set of measures aimed at reinforcing industrial sovereignty, safeguarding trade and economic security, and guiding the clean and digital transition of these industries. To ensure effective implementation, the Commission will also establish a high-level Maritime Industries and Ports Board, chaired by the responsible Commissioner and EVPs.
EU shipbuilding and shipping are described as central to the Union’s strategic autonomy, underpinning trade flows, mobility, defence capabilities, and the protection of assets and resources within Europe’s Exclusive Economic Zones.
Structured around three principal pillars, the Industrial Maritime Strategy responds to mounting global competition and increasing reliance on third-country ship production. The first pillar, namely ‘Build, Equip and Repair’, concentrates on strengthening Europe’s maritime manufacturing base and sustaining technological leadership within the waterborne single market. Among the planned initiatives is the launch of an EU Industrial Maritime Value Chain Alliance, intended to promote synergies across the maritime value chain and bolster EU industrial sovereignty. The Commission also intends to speed up the digital and circular transformation of European shipyards, maximise public demand and funding opportunities, and pursue a more balanced global level playing field for EU industry.
The second pillar, ‘Transport and Connect’, targets the competitiveness, sustainability and connectivity of maritime transport. Measures include simplifying reporting and administrative requirements, advancing green and digital transition efforts, supporting quality shipping and enhancing agility in international engagement. In collaboration with Member States, the Commission will step up EU engagement at IMO on global maritime standards to secure a level playing field. The Strategy further confirms the continued application of existing state aid guidelines for maritime transport to maintain current market shares and encourage vessels to register under EU flags amid strong global competition.
Under the third pillar, ‘Secure and Protect’, the Industrial Maritime Strategy addresses naval, underwater, dual-use and military mobility capabilities to reinforce security and resilience. It foresees mobilising instruments to expand naval production capacity, strengthen EU-level maritime domain awareness, and develop a dual-use ferry construction support mechanism incorporating enhanced military specifications. Horizontal measures on research and innovation, finance and skills complement these pillars. Funding streams such as the Connecting Europe Facility, Innovation Fund, Horizon Europe, European Defence Fund programmes, national EU ETS revenues and InvestEU risk-sharing instruments, pending adoption of the next MFF, are expected to underpin investments in fleet decarbonisation, innovation and defence.
