Page 19 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΣΕΠΤΕΜΒΡΙΟΣ 2022

European shipping is facing fundamental changes, mainly in terms of environmental regula-
tions, while the war in Ukraine is redefining the industry’s status quo. In this interview,
Mr Philis refers to the EU Emissions Trading System, the collective voice of European ship-
owners on key maritime issues, and the impact of recent geopolitical developments on European
shipping.
SHIPPING IS GOING

THROUGH A PHASE

OF FUNDAMENTAL

CHANGE

Philippos Philis, Ö Do you think that the ETS, as pro- price gap between clean and conventional fuels.
President of the posed by the European Institutions, About 80% of the current ETS revenues are used
European Community
Shipowners' Associa is the best solution for the sustain- for the energy transition of other ETS sectors and
tions (ECSA) ability of European Shipping? Are the we need to see the same happening in shipping.
recent proposals submitted by Mem- The Parliament has fully supported our proposal to
in a discussion with bers of the European Parliament in set up a sector-dedicated fund and has earmarked
Ilias Bisias the right direction? 75% of the revenues generated by the shipping
Although European shipowners would have pre- allowances to the energy transition of the sector.
ferred an international solution, we recognise that The Council has supported special financing calls
shipping should contribute its fair share to address under the ETS innovation fund. However, we believe
the climate crisis at the EU level as well. We wel- that this commitment does not go far enough to
come the increased climate ambition of the ‘Fit for support innovation and to bridge the substantial
55’ package but we have criticised the lack of con- price gap between conventional and clean fuels.
sistency and have put forward workable solutions. We, therefore, encourage the governments to go a
One of the shortcomings of the ETS proposal has step ahead and to support the earmarking of the
been that it does not address the responsibility of ETS revenues for the energy transition of the sector,
the entity that takes operational decisions affecting as proposed by the Parliament.
the CO emissions of a vessel. We have worked hard
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over the last year to convince the Parliament, the á Is the voice of European shipowners suf-
Council, and the Commission about the need to ficiently heard in the international and
make the commercial operators responsible for the regional fora of London and Brussels?
costs of the ETS. Our proposal is environmentally Some critics may say that the shipping sector is
consistent with the overall climate targets of the conservative and inward-looking. I would rather say
EU and will encourage operators to improve the that shipping is in a transition and is going through
operational efficiency of the vessel, use cleaner a phase of fundamental change. The sector has
fuels, and reduce emissions. dealt successfully with one crisis after another and
It is remarkable that both the Council and the Par- has become more extroverted, more open, and more
liament support a similar position on the mandatory influential. As a renowned media outlet put it after
transfer of the costs to the commercial operators, the Parliament’s vote on the ETS earlier this year:
which has been one of the major points we have “shipping spoke and people in Brussels have lis-
raised. We need all hands-on deck and proper tened to the sector”.
implementation of the ‘polluter-pays’ principle for It is essential to understand the dynamics and the
the energy transition of the sector. new emerging political landscape. Shipping is at the
Another element missing from the ETS proposal top of the political agenda, and we need to high-
was the use of the revenues. Allocating the rev- light the great contribution of shipping to global
enues to the sector is essential for bridging the trade and to the competitiveness of the European

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