ESPO Conference Thessaloniki – 8 and 9 May: We are ready, are you?
23 April 2025
On 8 and 9 May, Europe’s ports will gather in Thessaloniki for the 21st edition of the ESPO Conference, the annual highlight of the European port industry. As always, the Conference is taking place back-to-back with ESPO’s General Assembly.
The conference aims to discuss the forthcoming strategy for Europe’s ports in the post-2024 era.
The year 2024 has been marked by important elections, both in Europe and in the US, leading to new leaders and political priorities. Since the start of this year, geopolitical tensions are further escalating and multilateralism is under pressure, shaking up the world order and paving the way for a new geopolitical and geo-economic normal. To navigate these shifts, the EU needs to prepare for its own future, secure its own position and foster new alliances.
While the European Union continues to strive to become net-zero by the middle of this century, it is now also setting its compass towards a more competitive, secure and geoeconomically and geopolitically stronger Europe. Europe’s ports are at the centre of today’s challenges and are, at the same time, instrumental in facing them.
The ESPO Conference 2025 will be the ideal moment for ports, port stakeholders, policymakers and experts to reflect on how ports can and must adjust to the new world. Who will prepare the script for ports? Can the ports still be masters of their own plan? What role can policy play in enhancing the competitiveness of Europe’s ports? Do we need to look in a different way to the ports’ value creation? To what extent will trade tariffs and barriers further disrupt Europe’s port landscape? How to turn challenges into opportunities?
The podium seats are full of an impressive line-up of high-level speakers, port and trade experts and port CEOs. We are also thrilled to welcome the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas for a first dialogue with Europe’s port community.
European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas
There are still some free seats available in the room, so if you want to take part of the dialogue, check the ESPO Conference website and book your spot in the Conference room and … of course, at the exclusive gala dinner and networking events. Thessaloniki is waiting for you!
Please note that hotel accommodations should be booked directly through the conference website, as this ensures access to our special group rates.
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