OpenLobby.EU
Explore

Havenbedrijf Antwerpen - Brugge NV van publiek recht

POAB

Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a major European port authority managing a large industrial and logistical hub.

Lobbying Activity

Antwerp and Rotterdam ports urge circular market mandates

6 Nov 2025
Topic — The consultation concerns a legislative framework to enhance EU circular economy competitiveness.
Message — The ports request mandatory quotas for circular content and faster permitting in designated acceleration zones. They seek simplified waste definitions and harmonized criteria to facilitate the transport of secondary materials.123
Why — Designation as strategic hubs would unlock funding and streamline expansion for port industries.45
Impact — Exporters of low-cost fossil-based materials would face stricter anti-dumping and trade restrictions.67
Read full response

Meeting with Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Commissioner) and

4 Nov 2025 · Stakeholder Dialogue on the security dimension of the EU Ports Strategy

Port of Antwerp-Bruges urges aid for digital port infrastructure

6 Oct 2025
Topic — The Commission is revising rules that exempt certain state aid from prior notification.
Message — The port proposes defining 'digital port infrastructure' to enable state aid for virtual systems and data security. They also suggest simplifying requirements for innovation clusters to reduce administrative barriers.12
Why — This would allow the port to use public funding for modernizing its digital networks.34
Read full response

Meeting with Daniel Freund (Member of the European Parliament) and IHK NRW - Die Industrie- und Handelskammern in Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V.

29 Sept 2025 · IHK Aachen „Schienenverkehr im Rheinland“

Port of Antwerp-Bruges urges unbundled EU CO2 transport network

11 Sept 2025
Topic — EU legislative initiative ensuring development of competitive markets and transportation infrastructure for CO2.
Message — Appoint independent carbon network operators to ensure cost-efficient investment planning. Apply light regulated third-party access to pipelines to balance open access with investment. Designate CO2 infrastructure as having overriding public interest to expedite permitting.123
Why — Regulated cost recovery and mutualization would lower financial risks for infrastructure developers.45
Impact — Private developers lose the ability to build exclusive, fragmented transport infrastructure.6
Read full response

Port of Antwerp-Bruges Urges Flexible Rules for Green Shipping

3 Sept 2025
Topic — A strategic framework to boost investments in renewable transport fuels and infrastructure.
Message — The port requests temporary operational funding and flexible rules for synthetic fuels. They also want carbon tax revenues dedicated to maritime investments.123
Why — Financial support and relaxed rules would reduce investment risks for new fuel infrastructure.4
Impact — Climate objectives might be compromised by allowing long-term use of industrial carbon emissions.5
Read full response

Port of Antwerp-Bruges demands clear rules for chemical recycling

19 Aug 2025
Topic — The EU is establishing rules for calculating recycled content in plastic bottles.
Message — The organization requests clear rules that recognize chemical recycling as a valid method. They want flexibility to use existing industrial infrastructure and transfer credits between sites. They also seek a simple system that ensures fair global competition.123
Why — This would allow the port to secure major chemical recycling investments.45
Impact — Waste incineration companies lose out as plastic is diverted to recycling.6
Read full response

Major ports urge EU priority access to energy grids

4 Aug 2025
Topic — EU consultation on accelerating the expansion and digitalization of energy grid infrastructure.
Message — Ports request priority grid access and a dedicated chapter in the Grids Package. They also call for hydrogen funding and recognizing electrolysers for grid stabilization.1234
Why — This would resolve infrastructure bottlenecks and prevent significant delays to industrial decarbonization projects.56
Impact — Other industrial companies could face longer waits as ports bypass the standard connection queue.7
Read full response

Response to EU Ports Strategy

22 Jul 2025

Port of Antwerp-Bruges (POAB) welcomes the European Commission's call for evidence, it is an opportune moment to contribute to the future EU Ports Strategy. The paper attached outlines some perspectives of POAB on key areas, where we suggest a future EU Ports Strategy could be build upon. We invite the European Commission to consider these priorities and we look forward to working together on the further development of the EU Ports Strategy.
Read full response

Port of Antwerp-Bruges calls for ETS reforms to protect competitiveness

7 Jul 2025
Topic — Review of the EU emissions trading system for maritime and industrial sectors.
Message — The port calls for a harmonized EU-level approach to compensate industries for indirect carbon costs. They request reinvesting all carbon revenues into industry through national mechanisms to support energy transitions. Finally, they demand stronger measures to prevent ships from evading carbon taxes by visiting non-EU ports.123
Why — This would protect the port's business volume by reducing the risk of carbon and investment leakage.4
Impact — Environmental progress might be hindered by stopping the automatic cancellation of surplus carbon allowances in reserve.5
Read full response

Port of Antwerp-Bruges urges EU cluster designation for industry

7 Jul 2025
Topic — The consultation addresses accelerating industrial decarbonisation and competitiveness within the European Union.
Message — The organization requests an “industrial cluster” designation to speed up permitting for shared infrastructure. They also propose “umbrella permits” to reduce the administrative burden on individual innovation projects.12
Why — This strategy would lower regulatory costs and strengthen the region's competitive advantage.34
Impact — Environmental interests may be sidelined by proposed exemptions for construction-related pollution emissions.56
Read full response

Meeting with Tudor Constantinescu (Principal Adviser Energy)

3 Jul 2025 · Meeting on Ports and hydrogen

Meeting with Stefano Signore (Head of Unit Directorate-General for International Partnerships) and TotalEnergies SE and

1 Apr 2025 · Exchange of views on the challenges and opportunities for renewable hydrogen development in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)

Port of Antwerp-Bruges opposes new legislation in water strategy

3 Mar 2025
Topic — This consultation concerns a plan to achieve a water-resilient Europe by 2030.
Message — The Port argues that additional legislation is unnecessary, favoring better implementation of current rules. They request adaptations to handle legacy pollutants and protect essential dredging operations.123
Why — This approach avoids new regulatory costs while ensuring shipping lanes remain navigable.45
Impact — Upstream industrial polluters could face higher costs if source control is strictly enforced.67
Read full response

Meeting with Maroš Šefčovič (Executive Vice-President) and

10 Oct 2023 · Hydrogen

Meeting with Johannes Hahn (Commissioner)

24 Mar 2023 · Economic outlook and trade

Meeting with Kathleen Van Brempt (Member of the European Parliament)

6 Mar 2023 · Climate transition & port developments in the EU regulatory framework (APA)

Meeting with Kathleen Van Brempt (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Mar 2023 · Impact and enforcement challenges of the Mobility Package (APA)

Meeting with Johannes Hahn (Commissioner)

20 Jun 2022 · Visiting the Porte of Antwerp

Meeting with Caroline Nagtegaal (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

13 Jan 2022 · AFIR

Meeting with Joan Canton (Cabinet of Commissioner Thierry Breton)

18 Oct 2021 · Clean hydrogen

Meeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and

3 Jun 2021 · Clean Hydrogen Alliance; regulatory framework

Meeting with Daniel Mes (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Sarah Nelen (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans), Stefanie Hiesinger (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

24 Mar 2021 · Meeting on the merger of the Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge in view of the European transport and energy transition and sustainable recovery

Meeting with Didier Reynders (Commissioner)

22 Mar 2021 · To present the foreseen merger of the Port of Antwerp and Bruges

Meeting with Henrik Hololei (Director-General Mobility and Transport)

18 Mar 2021 · Merger Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge

Meeting with Kurt Vandenberghe (Cabinet of President Ursula von der Leyen)

18 May 2020 · European Green Deal

Response to Evaluation Energy Taxation Directive

26 Sept 2017

The port of Antwerp is in favor of the electricity taxation exemption for Onshore Power Supply (OPS). OPS provides a usefull means towards decarbonisation of the shipping industry and is a direct, effective measure to mitigate local emissions in ports. In our view, there is a disruption in the level playing field between shore side electricity and on-board energy production since this is only subject to limited taxation. We believe that by exempting OPS from energy taxation, a main obstacle towards a European shore power network will be removed.
Read full response

Response to Access to service facilities and rail-related services

16 Aug 2017

We would like to thank the European Commission for giving Antwerp Port Authority (APA) the possibility to share its views. APA has taken serious initiatives to consult its stakeholders. Since there are many operators of rail service facilities in the port of Antwerp, our survey started some months ago with analysing the Draft Implementing Act and questioning the relevant parties in our port which may have important remarks and/or comments. APA has bundled these results and finds it very important that this feedback results in an amendment or clarification in the draft regulation proposed by the EC. 3 critical points resulting from our consultations we have summarized below: 1. Definition of access to rail related services Art. 3 gives a definition of a ‘rail-related service’ and refers to Annex II of Directive 2012/34/EU. Annex II of the Directive indicates ‘services to be supplied to the railway undertakings’. Art. 13.2 of this Directive mentions ‘…and to the services supplied in these facilities.’. The Draft Implementing Regulation stipulates that access should be given for applicants to service facilities which are rail-related. We understand in the draft that it is meant that these are only services that are related to the provision of railway transport services, not the handlings in installations (for facilities supported by not-public money) like loading, unloading and transshipment of goods from and to trains. APA would like to see a clear text confirmation inserted in the articles. 2. Publication of charges for the use of each rail-related service Referring to the previous remark, we understand the principle of non-discriminated access related to the provision of railway transport services and the publication of charges and discount schemes. However, as stipulated in the text this respects and takes account of commercial confidentiality requirements (i). Charges and discount schemes of handling in installations like loading, unloading and transshipment of goods from and to trains are not to be disclosed, when these facilities are supported by not-public money (ii). APA would like to see (i and ii) a clear text confirmation inserted in the articles. 3. Single point of contact The port of Antwerp holds many rail service facilities, of which several small ones. APA wants to create a “single point of contact” for applicants requesting information on service facility operators. In this sense requests can be coordinated and processes can be streamlined, which leads to an effective implementation of the requirement to publish information in a single place. A single point of contact for the port area might also serve as an interface for the national regulatory body. Therefore, APA would like to keep Article 11 of the “Discussion Paper on access to service facilities and rail related facilities”). Finally, APA also supports the request by the Railway Administration Executive Agency of Bulgaria (feedback published on 20/7/2017) for including in the IA specific and clear criteria for exemption from application of the IA. APA also shares the view of the Office of Rail and Road (UK) (feedback published on 28/7/2017) to include a provision that the IA (as far as applicants are concerned) only applies to railway undertakings unless national law includes other categories of applicants to be included.
Read full response

Meeting with Marianne Thyssen (Commissioner)

18 Oct 2016 · Ports in Europe

Meeting with Jos Delbeke (Director-General Climate Action)

18 Mar 2016 · Climate policy

Meeting with Marianne Thyssen (Commissioner) and

9 Dec 2014 · EU Policy and its impact on harbours