For years, discussions between ports were dominated by the question: ‘Who is the biggest?’ These days, when we — the CEOs of the Port of Antwerp‑Bruges, North Sea Port, Duisburg, and Rotterdam — sit down together, our focus is: ‘Hown we jointly secure a sustainable future for industry in Europe?
On the eve of the European Industry Summit on 17 and 18 April, we call on Europe’s political leaders to do the same and find a solution to the deteriorating position of our industry. These days, when we sit down together, we no longer talk about cargo tonnage, but about how we can jointly secure a sustainable future for industry in Europe.
The manufacturing industry in the triangle between the Flemish‑Dutch ports and Germany’s Ruhr area accounts for a large share of European production. Companies in the chemical and steel industries are located in the ports because of the supply of raw materials and energy, which are still largely fossil‑based. These are major emitters with a significant responsibility to reduce their CO₂ emissions quickly. They are also the companies that make it possible for us in Europe to produce electronics, medicines, and mattresses — as well as wind turbines, insulation materials, and solar panels. Many of their often international headquarters are now hesitating over whether they still see a future in Europe. We are deeply concerned about this; it is precisely industry that can make the difference in making our society more sustainable.
As ports, we therefore want to take the lead in improving the investment climate for industry in Europe, so that companies are encouraged to invest here in sustainability. The companies in the triangle are literally connected to each other by a network of pipelines. They work together, supply raw materials to one another, and share knowledge. As ports and industrial clusters, we are adapting the infrastructure to the raw materials and energy of the future, such as hydrogen, so that a sustainable industry can continue to collaborate efficiently in the same way. That also means making plans and investing together. And to be fair, we could sometimes do that more often and better.
As landlords of large industrial complexes, we want to work more from a shared vision. Space in ports is already scarce, and more sustainable production — for example circular production — requires much more space and sometimes, temporarily, additional environmental impact. We therefore want to jointly examine which activities we really need in Europe. Where is that space available — physically and within the regulatory framework? What will our ports and industry look like in 2050, once they have become climate‑neutral? We can only provide a joint answer to these questions if our governments also view industry with an international perspective.
We therefore ask European government leaders to stand alongside industry, as we do. Energy‑intensive companies in Europe face much higher costs than in other parts of the world, as well as more complex legislation and regulation. Another factor is that the United States, with the substantial support package of the Inflation Reduction Act, has made it attractive for companies to invest there in the necessary modernisation. If governments do not counter this, investments in sustainability in Europe will fail to materialise and industry will relocate outside Europe. Existing plants here will then be kept running as long as possible, as they age and are ultimately shut down. That means more imports from outside Europe, with negative consequences for the climate, our strategic autonomy, and prosperity.
There are growing voices saying that if additional funding is required, we might be better off without industry. We understand that hesitation. Industry does indeed cause nuisance and will not stop using fossil raw materials and emitting CO₂ overnight. This requires a transition that demands everyone’s utmost commitment. We hope that industry will be given the opportunity to make that transition here in Europe; it forms a crucial pillar of our ports, alongside logistics and the energy sector. This represents around €63 billion in added value and more than half a million jobs. That is why it is important that European political leaders align climate and industrial policy in their five‑year plans, as was recently emphasised by European business in The Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal. Let us maintain healthy competition and strengthen our cooperation on the energy transition.
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