C 100/34
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
16.3.2023
3.7.
The EESC notes that the competitiveness of the sector is directly influenced by the EGD as this represents a paradigm shift for the entire waterborne sector.
Its implementation will result in speedier adoption of alternative fuels and technologies.
However, the EESC points out that the limited infrastructure and availability of alternative fuels hinder a faster switch and therefore calls for immediate investments in this regard, for instance by setting up a dedicated EU Maritime Fund.
The specific features of each vessel type should be considered, with specific roadmaps for propulsion systems, fuels and zero-emission technologies.
3.8.
The EESC is worried by the trade barriers in Asia towards European companies and calls for current and future bilateral and free trade agreements and economic partnerships to be updated with clauses that ensure free market access for EU maritime companies, prohibit trade barriers, demand reciprocity and secure due diligence.
3.9.
The EESC believes that international discussions and agreements represent the best way forward against trade protectionism and asks the EC to step up its international efforts to achieve global rules.
Alternatively, the EC needs to apply unilateral actions — as long as it is necessary — to create leverage over its international competitors.
The EESC considers it a top priority to act against foreign subsidisation and injurious pricing.
3.10.
The MT industry is a cornerstone for Europe’s blue economy as it builds and retrofits vessels, structures and technologies, e.g. for developing a green fishery fleet, offshore renewable energy, aquaculture and deep sea mining.
In order to achieve the EGD goals, the EU will need to significantly increase its industrial capacity for offshore marine renewables and for other alternative fuels.
Otherwise, the EU will need to rely on foreign capacity to develop this strategic market and achieve its own EGD targets.
To avoid this risk, the EESC calls on the EC to immediately qualify the strategic MT sector and its activities as ‘critical infrastructure’.
3.11.
The Committee firmly believes that the EU’s economic leadership can only be achieved with strong production facilities on EU soil, as this is the only possibility to ensure a sustainable economic and social development, safeguard the EU’s defence and strategic maritime autonomy, keep EU citizens safe and secure their jobs.
The EESC also calls for a dedicated programme and incentives for producers that want to relocate their production facilities to the EU (reshoring).
4.
Employment and Skills 4.1.
The MT sector creates about 1 million jobs in maritime regions across Europe (8).
4.2.
Embracing greening and digitalisation and adopting breakthrough technologies require a specialisation of the labour force.
For that, the EESC urges the EC and the Member States to develop and immediately implement large-scale reskilling, upskilling and VET programmes, through programme evaluation and skills certification, with the full involvement of the social partners and academia.
Furthermore, the EESC calls for concrete financial support for the EU Pact for Skills and for designated campaigns that will make the sector more attractive, including for women and young people, and persons with disabilities and special competences.
The EESC also points out that the MT sector requires workers with enhanced skills in robotics, AI, cybersecurity, sensoring, automation and 3D printing as well as highly skilled engineers, in addition to the sector’s special need for blue collar workers (e.g. welders, electricians, pipe fitters).
4.3.
European companies meet the highest international social standards in full compliance with EU legislation and ILO rules.
The EESC acknowledges the work of European companies in leading the way in and raising international labour standards, and the importance of good working conditions, decent salaries and social security for the sector’s workforce and calls for increased efforts to create and consolidate European Works Councils.
Furthermore, the Committee reiterates the need for workers posted to another Member State to be entitled to a set of core rights in force in the host Member State in accordance with the Posting of Workers Directive.
(8)
A Future European Maritime Technology Industrial Policy