14th September 2024 – 20th September 2024
LOCAL NEWS
1. Cyprus Union of Shipowners’ Annual General Meeting, followed by a dinner with H.E. the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners was held with great success on Thursday 19th September 2024 at the Cyprus Tower in Kifisia.
In the presence of Members of the Board the President of the Union Mr. Andreas Hadjiyiannis presented the activity report for the period between October 2023 – September 2024 and Board Members were briefed on the financial position of the Union.
Following the conclusion of the activity report the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Mrs. Marina Hadjimanolis joined the Meeting, accompanied by senior Ministry officials. During the Meeting the participants had the chance to discuss and exchange views on various environmental and corporate issues. Additionally, references were made to the establishment of the Advisory Shipowners Committee for flag-related matters, as well as the notable increase in Cyprus-flagged vessels.
The AGM was followed by a dinner at the gardens of the Cyprus Tower in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, who was accompanied by members of his Cabinet, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Dr. Constantinos Kombos and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Athens, Mr. Stavros Avgoustides.
The dinner was also attended by the Minister of Economy and Finance of Greece, Mr. Kostis Hatzidakis and prominent figures of the Shipping industry, such as Capt. Panagiotis Tsakos, Anna Angelikousis, Nikos Vafias, George Oikonomou, Dr. Ioannis Koustas, Dimitris Melissanidis, Ioanna Prokopiou, Villy Panagiotidis, Polys Hajioannou, George Angelopoulos, Harry Vafias, Frangiskos Kanellakis, Andreas Martinos, Dimitris Kopelouzos, Aristidis Pittas, the three Tsavliris brothers, Vassilis Theocharakis, Charalambos Fafalios, George Tsakiroglou, George Pateras.
The event received extensive coverage by the media which emphasized the geopolitical importance of shipping and the role of shipowners themselves, as per the speech of President Christodoulides who expressed his sincere gratitude to the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, its Board of Directors, and its esteemed Members and Associates for their unwavering dedication and invaluable contribution to the development of Cyprus’ shipping.
Please see below the links to the media coverage of the event and find attached the speech of Union’s President at the dinner.
Related Articles:
Attachment 1: CUS President Speech 19/09/2024
Attachment 2: CUS AGM 19/09/2024 - Photo
Kathimerini 20/09 - ΠτΔ: Η Ευρώπη δεν μπορεί να έχει γεωπολιτικό ρόλο χωρίς ναυτιλία
Cyprus Mail 20/09 - President highlights vital role of shipping in EU geopolitics
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
2. President von der Leyen announces the next College of EU Commissioners - Apostolos Tzitzikostas named Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism and Costas Kadis will be Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans.
On the 17th September 2024, Commission President von der Leyen announced the proposed new College of EU Commissioners.
The College is composed by six Executive Vice-Presidents (EVP) and 20 Commissioners. Of note, Apostolos Tzitzikostas (EPP, Greece) was named Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism and Costas Kadis (Cyprus) will be Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans.
With respect to the appointment of Mr. Costas Kadis, von der Leyen praised Kadis, saying, "I count on his experience to help build a resilient, competitive, and sustainable sector and present the first European Oceans Pact." Kadis will be responsible for implementing the European Ocean Pact, aimed at boosting the “Blue Economy” and ensuring sustainable ocean governance. The portfolio is considered strategically important, overseeing a significant portion of the EU’s economy and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund. Mr. Kadis’s appointment is considered as a major development which boosts Cyprus’s EU Role.
Furthermore, Mr. Apostolos Tzitzikostas has been appointed to the top EU post overseeing shipping and will face the issue of decarbonizing the EU’s transport sector. The mission letter for Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner-designate for sustainable transport and tourism, emphasized the green and digital transition of the waterborne sector as part of the European Green Deal.
“Your task will be to make European transport more competitive, more sustainable and more resistant to future shocks and to ensure transport is safe, accessible and affordable for all EU citizens. Your work will be essential in reaching our 2030 targets as part of the European Green Deal,” von der Leyen said in a mission letter to Tzitzikostas.
“You will focus on supporting industry and Member States on implementation, strengthening the single market for transport, increasing modal shift towards sustainable transport means and accelerating the roll-out of trans-European infrastructure, making the most of digital tool, new tech and innovation”.
The development of a new industrial maritime strategy and a comprehensive EU Port Strategy are on the action list for the Commissioner-designate for Sustainable Transport and Tourism.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the appointment of Apostolos Tzitzikostas as the European Union’s commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism. Mr. Mitsotakis said the appointment highlights Greece’s “geopolitical importance and strategic position as a gateway country for trade, energy and networks, both towards the Western Balkans and Eastern Europe, as well as to the northeastern end of the Mediterranean”. He also stressed the “crucial significance” for Greece of being responsible for shipping, a part of the transport portfolio, stressing that mobility and connectivity cannot be considered without including maritime routes.
Tzitzikostas' nomination seems to cement Greece's hold over the EU's transport file; Greek MEP Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, also in the EPP, is the chair of the Parliament's Committee on Transport and Tourism.
We draw your attention to the links below for the full list of EVPs and Commissioners-designates and their portfolios.
It is highlighted that the candidates will have to undergo Parliamentary hearings, before the whole College can be approved and the new Commission can officially take its seat.
Related Articles:
Europa Press Release 17/09 - President von der Leyen on the next College of Commissioners
Kathimerini 17/09 - Cyprus' Kostas Kadis named EU commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans
Politico 17/09 - What Greece brings to the EU’s top transport job
Euronews 17/09 - Apostolos Tzitzikostas- Transport and Tourism
Politico 17/09 - Meet the commissioners: Class of 2024
Euronews 17/09 - Von der Leyen's team and their CVs: Meet the new European Commission
Offshore Energy 19/09 - EU commits to highly awaited industrial maritime strategy
3. Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 82), 30 September - 4 October 2024
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), 82nd session, meets in-person at IMO Headquarters in London (with hybrid participation) from 30 September to 4 October, 2024.
MEPC 82 will discuss a range of environmental matters, including proposed mid-term measures for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, enhancing energy efficiency of shipping, tackling marine litter, ballast water management and underwater noise reduction.
The MEPC meeting is preceded by the 17th meeting of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships (ISWG-GHG 17), from 23 to 27 September 2024.
Highlights
- Tackling climate change - cutting GHG emissions from ships;
- Energy efficiency of ships;
- Ballast water management;
- Addressing marine litter;
- Designation of new Emission Control Areas;
- Proposals for Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas;
- Air pollution prevention;
- Reducing underwater radiated noise from commercial shipping;
- Pollution prevention and response;
- Ship recycling.
At MEPC 82, the Committee will continue its work to develop a draft legal framework to include candidate mid-term measures in Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). Once finalized, this will be considered for adoption by MEPC in late 2025.
Please tab the link below for more details on the Agenda and the Timetable.
Related Articles:
IMO - MeetingSummaries - PREVIEW MEPC82.aspx
Safety4Sea 20/09 - IMO MEPC 82: What's on the agenda?
4. TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 3: US Treasury Report for week 14/09/2024 – 20/09/2024
5. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 4: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 21/08/2024 – 18/09/2024
Nothing important to report from the House of Representatives and ILO.
