Minister for Sustainable Mobility, Chris Bonett, took part in the ninth Tripartite Meeting between the ministers responsible for the maritime sector of Cyprus, Greece and Malta. The meeting, which was held in Limassol, Cyprus, also included the participation of Italy for the first time.
In this meeting, various topics regarding this sector were discussed, particularly in light of recent geopolitical developments, in the Strait of Hormuz, in the Suez Canal, with the countries supporting cooperation towards each other, for ships flying the flag of one of these countries in case of difficulty, assistance to seafarers in distress, as well as what measures can be taken to guarantee the free and safe passage of merchant ships, wherever they pass.
The need to continue safeguarding the competitiveness of the European maritime sector as a strategic economic pillar, and its importance in European connectivity and resilience, was also discussed. In light of this, discussions focused in particular on the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, with a particular focus on developments by the European Union on the reviewof the Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) which has just been published by the European Commission, where it appears that major objections made by Malta, and the countries mentioned, regarding how this system would be operated will begin to be addressed, particularly in relation to transhipment, however with an admission that much work remains to be done and that the published review still needs to be amended in a number of aspects, above all the special recognition that should be given to states that are or have islands, whose connectivity and the import of basic materials for the population depends primarily on the sea.
The same about the Net-Zero Frameworkof the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the decarbonisation of the sector, which to date remains the best solution to have a global and non-sectoral emissions control regime that leads to a lack of competitiveness in Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean. Ministers agreed on the importance of continuing to follow these developments closely and of continuing coordination between countries in light of these discussions.
In a joint statement at the end of this meeting, Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Italy affirmed their common values and objectives in their work towards maritime transport that is safe, secure, competitive and better safeguards the environment. The Ministers also reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation, international cooperation and the protection of the safety of seafarers.
Minister Chris Bonett emphasised the importance of these meetings for our country which, as an island, depends on the maritime sector to receive the majority of the goods and essential products we consume on a daily basis. He explained how, together with Cyprus, Italy and Greece, we agree that while we should move towards decarbonising the sector through the use of clean fuels, we must ensure that this is not done by creating unnecessary suffering for businesses and people which could have an inflationary effect.
The Minister said that “These meetings are important, because the fact that we are around this table, where the four countries represent 75% of the European merchant fleet, gives clearer proof of the European leadership that we as a country have in this sector that is so crucial for world trade, and precisely in this meeting, with our partners, we agreed on how we should move forward together with our European partners and with the European Commission to guarantee that there is a level-playing field for everyone. Moving towards a green maritime sector is the way forward, but with respect for those who contribute the most to the sector.”
He concluded by saying that the declaration that was signed will see the Government continue to ensure that our country maintains the strategic role it plays in the Mediterranean as a global hub for maritime trade, as well as how the four countries have committed to continuing to work closely with the European Commission and other Member States in order to ensure a regulatory framework that supports a strong, competitive and resilient European maritime sector.
All countries agreed to continue to strengthen dialogue, cooperation and coordination between them, particularly in light of the upcoming discussions within the EU and the IMO on important themes including decarbonisation, competitiveness and long-term sustainability for this sector.
Photo: MSM
