13th July 2024 – 19th July 2024
LOCAL NEWS
1. Propeller Club Event - 50th anniversary of the Turkish invasion and occupation of Cyprus
On Monday, September 9th, 2024, the Propeller Clubs of the United States, Port of Piraeus and Port of Limassol, will host a joint event for the 50 years anniversary of the Turkish illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus.
The event will take place at the Yacht Club in Piraeus, and the keynote speaker will be H.E the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Constantinos Kombos.
With Cyprus being the only European country that is divided and 36% of the sovereign territory of the Republic of Cyprus being under illegal military occupation by Turkish troops, the event aims to honor this significant historical memory while strengthening the bonds of friendship, unity, and cooperation among the members of both clubs and sister nations.
An official invitation by the President of the Propeller Club, Port of Limassol, Mr. Polys V. Hajioannou, is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 1: Invitation by the President of the Propeller Club, Port of Limassol, Mr. Polys V. Hajioannou
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
2. Ursula von der Leyen is re-elected President of the Commission and releases her political guidelines
On the 18th July 2024 the European Parliament elected Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission.
This will be Ms. von der Leyen’s second term as Commission President. She was first elected in July 2019.
In an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg earlier in that day, Ms. von der Leyen said "The next five years will define Europe’s place in the world for the next five decades. It will decide whether we shape our own future or let it be shaped by events or by others”. Ms. Von der Leyen emphasized that her second term will be focused on prosperity and security, shaped by the challenges of Russia’s war in Ukraine, global economic competition and climate change.
Ahead of her election, Ms. von der Leyen released her political guidelines, highlighting her priorities for 2024-2029. The initiatives which are more relevant to shipping are the following:
A. Competitiveness and Clean Industrial Deal
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- The Commission will propose a Clean Industrial Deal for competitive industries within the first 100 days of the mandate, to ensure decarbonisation and that the implementation of the Green Deal goes hand in hand with re-industrialisation.
- An Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act will be established to support industries and companies through the transition.
- As established in the Net-Zero Industry Act, the new Commission will prioritise investments in and scaling up of clean energy infrastructure and technologies, including renewables and low-carbon technologies, grid infrastructure, storage capacity and transport infrastructure for captured CO2.
- A proposed revision of the Public Procurement Directives will aim to enable preference to be given to European products in public procurement for certain strategic sectors.
- The Commission will also launch a Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships to help secure supply of raw materials, clean energy and clean tech from across the world.
B. Investments
The Commission will prioritize the unlocking of investments to finance the green and digital transition. The Commission will seek to:
1. Maximise public finance by proposing a European Competitiveness Fund to provide investment capacity in clean and cutting-edge technologies made in Europe.
2. Mobilise private finance by:
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- Completing the Capital Markets Union to address fragmentation and liquidity of European markets
- Putting forward risk-absorbing measures to make it easier for banks, investors, and venture capital to finance companies.
- Developing a European Savings and Investments Union including banking and capital markets.
3. Enhance de-risking and risk sharing by using the European Investment Bank.
C. Trade and security
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- Need for an assertive economic security policy in particular when dealing with “strategic competitors”, specifically mentioning unfair competition from China. Stronger relations with like-minded partners, and in particular with the UK will be a cornerstone of the new foreign and security policy.
- Trade also remains a key pillar in view of strengthening the resilience of its supply chains. The new Commission reiterates its commitment to work on trade partnerships with a specific focus on India, Africa and Latin America.
The Commission President-elect will now send official letters to member state heads of state or government inviting them to put forward their candidates for European Commissioner posts. Parliament will then organise nominee hearings in the relevant committees after the summer. The full college of Commissioners then needs to be endorsed by Parliament.
However, the new elected President has already announced the following new portfolios, among others:
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- Vice-President in charge of regulatory simplification.
- Commissioner for the Mediterranean, to focus on investment and partnerships with Med states on areas of mutual interests.
Related Articles:
Europarl 18/07 - Parliament re-elects Ursula von der Leyen as Commission President
Commission Europa/POLITICAL GUIDELINES
Reuters 18/07 - EU Commission boss von der Leyen elected for second term
BBC 18/07 - Ursula von der Leyen secures five more years in top EU job
The Guardian 18/07 - Ursula von der Leyen wins second term as European Commission president
Philenews 18/07 - Ursula von der Leyen re-elected as EU Commission President
Cyprus Mail 18/07 - EU Commission head von der Leyen elected for second term
3. EU ETS: Publication of the Guidance Document for shipping companies on EU ETS & MRV
The following Guidance Documents have recently been published on DG CLIMA’s website :
A. General guidance for shipping companies: the EU ETS and MRV Maritime (Guidance Document no. 1)
The above – mentioned guidance interprets the legislation regarding requirements for shipping companies, taking into
account older guidance material, as well as input from the CCEG (Climate Change Expert Group) Maritime formation, and the MRV and ETS Implementation subgroup of the ESSF (European Sustainable Shipping Forum). This guidance document was endorsed by Member States in the Meeting of the Maritime Formation of the CCEG (Expert Group on Climate Change) in its meeting on 3 July 2024.
Chapter 2, Section 2.1 of the Guidance gives a general overview of requirements of the two main legislative acts, and how they interact, while Section 2.2 describes in detail the scope of activities falling under the MRV Maritime Regulation
(in terms of GHGs, ships, activities / voyages).
Chapter 3 of the Guidance explains the roles and responsibilities as well as the relevant deadlines of the so-called
“compliance cycle”.
Chapter 4 presents the monitoring rules for ships. It gives insight into which parameters need to be monitored on a per-voyage basis, and under what circumstances a derogation can be granted.
Chapter 5, Section 5.2 lists all requirements, necessary for the calculations and exemptions for reporting under the EU ETS.
In Chapter 6 guidance is given on all requirements for the monitoring plan, including its control system for data flow activities.
This Guidance Documents aims support the implementation of the MRV Maritime Regulation and its delegated and implementing acts as well as the EU ETS Directive with regards to shipping activities, by explaining the legal requirements in a non-legislative language.
It examines such issues as information to be provided by companies to the administering authorities, the general rules for the approval of monitoring plans by administering authorities and the general rules for the approval of modifications to monitoring plans by administering authorities.
It also provides guidance on the checks to be performed by the administering authorities for the approval of plans.
Related Articles:
Climate.Europa/ Guidance Document/The EU ETS and MRV Maritime
Climate Europa/ETS and MRV Maritime Regulation
4. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 2: US Treasury Report for week 13/07/2024 – 19/07/2024
5. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 3: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 19/06/2024 – 17/07/2024
Nothing important to report from the House of Representatives and ILO.