This year, the ESPO Conference will be sailing towards you: we are taking you on a Conference Regatta, crossing Europe from South to North. We set sail in the Port of Valencia on Tuesday 25 May. From there we sail off to Ghent, where we will be welcomed by our second host, North Sea Port on Wednesday 26 May. Our last port of call will be the Port of Oslo, where we race to the finish line on Friday 28 May.
The theme for this year’s conference is “Europe’s ports at the crossroads of transitions”.
After a year of disruption, Europe is preparing for a green recovery, a plan that aims at combining the need to recover with the delivery of the Green Deal, Europe’s flagship project to become the world’s first net-zero emission area by 2050. At the same time, the EU seeks to strengthen its resilience by pursuing an open strategic autonomy approach in trade. Finally, on the 1st of January we became the EU-27, a game changer for Europe’s ports or not?
In 2020, Europe’s ports have shown the best of themselves. Throughout the pandemic, they remained operational and have been playing a critical role in keeping the supply chains going.
It is now time to prepare for the future. Being at the centre of different strategies, Europe’s ports can be a partner in building a stronger and better Europe. They can develop towards becoming real engines of growth and green recovery, while engaging fully into the digitalisation process. What do ports have to offer? Which tools and policy ingredients are needed to boost this development? How to engage all partners in the port ecosystem?
Join us for this ESPO Conference Regatta 2021 and let’s talk all together - port industry, businesses, academics and, last but not least, EU policy makers - about the future of ports as part of a strong and resilient European economy and society.
The detailed programme and practical information for the ESPO Conference Regatta 2021 can be found on the official conference website.
To consult the pictures and presentations of previous editions, click here.
If you have any questions regarding the 2021 edition of the Conference Regatta, please contact Anaëlle Boudry from the ESPO Secretariat: anaelle.boudry@espo.be.
To promote the efforts made by different European ports to enhance the city port relations through innovative projects, ESPO decided in 2009 to give out an annual ESPO award on Social Integration of Ports. After the two first editions, it was decided to focus each year on one different aspect of social integration.
The themes addressed so far are: Creative Strategies to Communicate the Port to the Wider Public (2011), Youth (2012), Heritage (2013), Innovative Environmental Projects (2014), Relationship with Schools and Universities (2015), Nature in Ports (2016), Art and Cultural involvement of the port (2017), Ports as a good work environment for everyone (2018), Transparency and the role of social media in reaching out to the local community (2019), and Enhancing the port-city relationship by encouraging innovators and local start-ups to be part of the port ecosystem (2020).
The 2021 theme is ‘Role of ports in the recovery of the city and the local community’.
The ESPO Award 2021 will go to the port managing body that proves to play a special role in the recovery and prosperity of the city and local community.
Europe’s ports have been playing a critical and essential role for society and the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic by remaining open and operational throughout the whole crisis. They have been key in ensuring that goods could continue to reach consumers and industries. They have showed the best of themselves and continue to do so. Europe’s ports are playing an equally important role in the recovery of Europe and are crucial to bringing back prosperity for the city and the local community.
The ESPO Award 2021 will go to the port managing body that succeeds best in playing a role in the recovery from the current crisis and in contributing to enhancing the prosperity of the city, local community and region. The winning port will demonstrate to what extent its focus and activities are essential for the recovery of the surrounding city and local community and which successful steps the it is taking to assist in the social, cultural and economic recovery and prosperity of the city, local community and region.
Project submissions have to reach the ESPO Secretariat by Thursday 1 July 2021 at the latest. To submit your project, please use the dedicated application form and go through the terms of reference.
WINNERS OF THE ESPO AWARD
