Posted on January 20, 2025
Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Port of Rotterdam are calling on the European Commission to make large-scale investments in the competitiveness of industry in Europe. This comes ahead of the publication of the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal. ‘Europe’s strategic autonomy, energy transition and prosperity is at stake’.
As energy, logistics and industrial clusters, the two largest ports in Europe can play an important role in implementing the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal, aimed at strengthening the investment climate in Europe. As such, they want the European Commission to take an approach that focuses on strengthening international chains and industrial clusters, rather than specific sectors or regions. The ports want to take the lead in this cross-border approach by working together more intensively themselves.
Scientifically based joint value
On behalf of both ports, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Erasmus University Rotterdam (Centre for Urban, Port and Transport Economics) carried out research into the position and value of the joint port complexes. The study showed that both ports should be seen as an integrated logistics and industrial complex, linked to the broader industrial cluster that extends to the Ruhr region: the ARRRA cluster. In doing so, the ports link flows of goods and energy to businesses and consumers far into the hinterland. The combined scale, overlapping networks, interconnections and complementary sectors and activities create synergy, giving the industrial cluster a major role in industry in Europe. For example, the ARRRA cluster accounts for 40 per cent of European petrochemical production.
Reinforce collaboration
Strengthening collaboration between Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Port of Rotterdam could further enhance these benefits, including for Europe. Provided that the right framework is put in place and that Europe invests in connectivity, tackles the regulatory burden and provides stronger support for sustainability investments. This was the message communicated to European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, at a joint event organised in Brussels by both ports.
