ESPO’S ANNUAL CONFERENCE
We hope you had an incredible time at this year's ESPO Conference in Paris! Get ready for even more excitement, because we're thrilled to invite you to Thessaloniki for the 2025 edition, happening on May 8th and 9th. Don't miss out on the next unforgettable experience!
Click below to dive into the stunning photos and presentations from this year's ESPO conference in Paris and relive the unforgettable moments we shared!
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), Enhancing the port-city relationship by encouraging innovators and local start-ups to be part of the port ecosystem (2020) and Role of ports in the recovery of the city and the local community (2021). The role of passenger ports in ensuring a sustainable connectivity of the neighbouring city with other regions and Member States (2022), Nature restoration projects in ports (2023).
This year, we’ve received nine fantastic submissions for the 16th edition of the ESPO Award. This year’s theme, “Port Projects or Strategies in Circular Economy Benefiting the City and Surrounding Community,” has inspired a range of innovative and impactful projects.
The ESPO Award 2024 will recognize the port managing body that has developed a circular economy strategy and/or a significant circular economy project involving different stakeholders in or around the port. The award aims to honour efforts that actively engage the port and benefit the surrounding community through circular economy activities.
Here are the nine contenders in competition for the ESPO Award 2024:
Port Antwerp-Bruges (Belgium); Port of Hirtshals (Denmark); Port of Gdansk (Poland); Port of Bilbao (Spain); Port Authority of Castellón (Spain); Port Authority of Huelva (Spain); Port of Las Palmas (Spain); Port of Sevilla (Spain); Gothenburg Port Authority (Sweden)
The winner will be chosen by an independent jury of international experts, chaired by Eamonn O'Reilly, former Chair of ESPO.
The ESPO Award, established in 2009, celebrates innovative projects that enhance city-port relationships and societal integration.
Join us as we unveil the winner at the ESPO Award Ceremony and Dinner on November 6 at the Albert Hall in Brussels. The 2024 ESPO Award painting, crafted exclusively for us by Dutch artist Sasja Hagens, will also be revealed.
With the support of:
WINNERS OF THE ESPO AWARD
