On 16 July, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, co-hosted the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the European Ports Alliance Public-Private Partnership together with the Irish Presidency, as part of the Justice and Home Affairs Council.
Criminal organisations are increasingly targeting not only major seaports but also smaller ports and inland transport hubs. The meeting focused on reinforcing action against drug trafficking and organised crime in ports and maritime logistics. Participants also discussed how various stakeholders can contribute and cooperate to make ports more resilient. The meeting was followed by a visit to the Port of Dublin.
The European Ports Alliance is a flagship initiative of the EU Roadmap to fight drug trafficking and organised crime, adopted by the Commission on the 18 October 2023. It brings together 28 countries (26 EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland), over 50 seaports and inland ports, industry associations, the EU Commission, EU agencies and bodies (Europol, Eurojust, EU Drugs Agency, European Public Prosecutor’s Office) and Council.
It supports the Commission’s broader effort to tackle organised crime and drugs trafficking as outlined in the ProtectEU Strategy, and the EU Ports Strategy.
Since the last EU Ports Alliance Ministerial meeting in Aarhus, Denmark, 18 ports joined. To strengthen the alliance, the Commission has allocated EUR 1.3 million to fund the European Ports Alliance Public-Private Partnership for two years.
