You will find below the presentations given at the ESPO Conference Regatta 2021, which took place online, broadcasted from the three host ports: the Port of Valencia on 25 May at the Edificio del Reloj, North Sea Port in Ghent on 26 May at the Port Visitor Centre, and the Port of Oslo on 28 May at the Clarion Hotel Oslo. Click on the name of the speaker to see his/her presentation.
Moderator of the day: Guillermo Marco, Interpreter, Master of Ceremonies and university professor
9.30: Welcome by Aurelio Martínez Estévez, CEO Port Authority of Valencia
Opening speeches
9.40: Opening words by Annaleena Mäkilä, ESPO Chair
9.50: Exchange of views with Adina Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport
10.05: Outlook for Europe
‘Europe: tectonic plates are moving again’
Caroline De Gruyter, Columnist and European Affairs Correspondent
10.35: Time for a cultural BREAK
Europe’s ports: quo vadis?
10.50: ‘Economic outlook for European ports’
Dr. Bart Kuipers, Erasmus Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics
11.10: ‘Insight into the future role of European port authorities’
Presentation of the joint Deloitte-ESPO Study by Indra Vonck, Manager Deloitte Port Center of Excellence
11.30: Debate with Ports and Port Stakeholders
Moderator: Dr. Peter de Langen, Owner and Principal Consultant, Ports & Logistics Advisory
Debate with
- Josep-Vicent Boira, Commissioner of the Spanish Government for the Mediterranean Corridor
- Zeno D’Agostino, ESPO Vice-Chair and President of the Port Network Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea
- Eamonn O’Reilly, CEO Dublin Port Company
- Stéphane Raison, incoming CEO HAROPA
12.20: Conclusion
Closing of the first Conference Regatta day by Inmaculada Rodríguez-Piñero, Member of the European Parliament
12.20: Handover to North Sea Port by Juan Manuel Diez Orejas, Head of Strategic Planning & Innovation, Port Authority of Valencia
12.35: End
Moderator of the day: Rob Heirbaut, EU Correspondent, VRT
9.30: Handover and welcome by Astrid Vliebergh, Commercial Director, North Sea Port
Green Recovery and TEN-T
9.35: Keynote speech by Kris Peeters, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank
Q&A
9.55: ‘Stepping up the maritime dimension in TEN-T’
Keynote speech by Prof. Kurt Bodewig, Motorways of the Sea Coordinator
Q&A
10.15: PERS certification ceremony
10.25: Time to MOVE with David De Coninck, Master’s degree in physical education, CEO uMoveFit
10.40: Debate with the European Commission and the European Parliament on the Mobility Strategy, TEN-T Review and the Green Recovery
Debate with
- Henrik Hololei, Director General, European Commission, DG MOVE
- Members of the European Parliament: Magdalena Adamowicz, Andris Ameriks, Caroline Nagtegaal and Johan Van Overtveldt
- Daan Schalck, ESPO Vice-Chair and CEO North Sea Port
11.35: Debate on Hydrogen: Hype or Heaven?
Debate with
- Bart Biebuyck, Executive Director Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking
- Allard Castelein, President and CEO Port of Rotterdam
- Ben Oudman, Regional Director CEMEIA (Continental Europe, Middle East, India and Africa) and Country Chair for the Netherlands, DNV
- Victoria Petrova, Adviser for Hydrogen Economy, European Commission, DG GROW
- Kathleen Van Brempt, Member of the European Parliament
12.25: Conclusion
Closing of the second Conference Regatta day and handover to the Port of Oslo
12.30 End
13.00-14.00: Keep on moving in digital working times
Side event with David De Coninck, Master’s degree in physical education, CEO uMoveFit
Moderator of the day: Heidi Neilson, Chair of ESPO’s Sustainable Development Committee
9.30 Handover and welcome by Ingvar Mathisen, CEO Port of Oslo
Europe’s Climate and Greening Agenda
9.40: ‘Will ports really be energy hubs and key players in future zero emission logistic chains?’
Key message by Knut Arild Hareide, Minister of Transport, Norway
9.50: ‘The European Green Deal, the maritime transport sector and the ports’
Keynote speech by Clara de la Torre, Deputy Director General, European Commission, DG CLIMA
10.05: ‘Turning the climate threat into an opportunity’
Keynote speech by Bjørn Haugland, CEO Skift – Business Climate Leaders
10.25: ‘Coalition building as fast track to zero emission transport solutions’
Presentation of the Norwegian ‘Green Shipping Programme’
‘The Marine Solution Readiness Level. The LR’s getting to zero approach’,
Presentation by Dr. Carlo Raucci, Marine Decarbonisation Consultant, Lloyd’s Register
Debate with
- Lars Erik Marcussen, Project Manager Logistics, HeidelbergCement North Europe
- Cécile Nourigat, Secretary General UPEI, Europe’s Independent Fuel Suppliers
- Stéphane Reiche, General Delegate, Marseille Fos Port Authority
- Bernard Vanheule, EU Affairs Director, Costa Group
11.10: Time for a BREAK
11.25: Presentation of the new ESPO Green Guide
Presentation of ESPO Green Guide by Valter Selén, Senior Policy Advisor, ESPO
11.40: Debate “Zero pollution ports”: what do we mean and how do we get there?
Debate with
- Raúl Cascajo, Head of Environmental Policies, Port Authority of Valencia
- Ville Haapasaari, CEO Port of Helsinki
- Edvard Molitor, Head of Sustainability, Port of Gothenburg
- Tom Willis, CEO Shoreham Port
12.20: Closing of the ESPO Conference Regatta 2021
Closing words by Annaleena Mäkilä, ESPO Chair
Announcement of the ESPO Conference 2022 in Valencia
12.30: End
