The ports of Antwerp-Bruges and Rotterdam have called on the European Commission to invest more in the competitiveness of European industry. The announcement comes ahead of the publication of the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal. The ports stress that strategic autonomy, the energy transition and economic prosperity of Europe are at stake.
A study by the University of Brussels and Erasmus University Rotterdam has confirmed the importance of the port complexes, which form a single logistics and industrial network linked to the large ARRRA cluster (including the Ruhr region). This cluster accounts for 40% of European petrochemical production, connecting the flows of goods and energy for businesses and consumers across Europe. The ports believe that their synergies and interconnected networks can play a key role in the implementation of the European industrial strategy.
To leverage these advantages, the ports propose to strengthen cooperation between Antwerp and Rotterdam, while also calling on the EU to create a favourable environment. This includes investments in connectivity, reducing regulatory barriers and supporting sustainable development. The message was presented to European Climate Commissioner Wopka Hoekstra at a joint port event in Brussels.