About

European ports handle up to 3.5 billion tonnes of cargo and around 400 million passengers each year. Beyond serving as transit points for goods and passengers, ports are strategic assets that connect transport, energy, industry and security, underpinning regional and global connectivity.

They are also at the forefront of the decarbonisation of the maritime sectors. They contribute to Europe’s economic strength, competitiveness, resilience, and geopolitical influence on the global stage.

Small and medium-sized TEN‑T ports are central to achieving EU priority objectives, as they anchor regional economies, support connectivity and territorial cohesion, and often fulfil specialised niche functions.  At the same time, they face increasingly complex investment needs — spanning decarbonisation, digitalisation, climate resilience and security — alongside demanding regulations and limited capacity to prepare sound investments and secure financing.

The EU Ports Capacity Building Programme responds to these needs by strengthening the institutional and technical capacity of TEN‑T port authorities. It is organised by EIB Advisory, in collaboration with the European Commission (DG MOVE and DG REGIO) through JASPERS. Through training, peer learning and targeted advisory support, the programme helps ports build a pipeline of mature, technically sound and bankable port projects, aligned with EU standards and EU priorities on competitiveness, sustainability, resilience, security and decarbonisation.

Objectives

The programme aims to:

  • Strengthen institutional and technical capacity of small and medium-sized TEN-T port authorities.
  • Improve project preparation, planning and implementation capabilities.
  • Facilitate knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning across the European port sector.
  • Improve project feasibility, soundness and bankability and readiness for EU funding and EIB financing.
  • Promote compliance with EU regulatory requirements and standards.
  • Accelerate decarbonisation, digitalisation, climate resilience, sustainability and security.
  • Support access to EU funding instruments and EIB financing.

Structure

The programme covers key strategic, technical and financial topics identified in collaboration with the European Commission, the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) and the sector.

Pillar 1 – Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing

A structured series of webinars will provide practical guidance and technical knowledge on topics relevant to port authorities, including through expert presentations, case studies, panel discussions and dissemination of knowledge resources and training materials.

Pillar 2 – Tailored Advisory Support

Based on the outcomes of the capacity-building programme, selected ports or clusters of ports may receive follow-up advisory support.

This support may include:

  • Assessment of project pipelines Identification of investment priorities
  • Review of project maturity
  • Support for project preparation

Seven-step capacity building programme

The programme follows a structured seven-step methodology to help ports identify, develop and implement sustainable, resilient and mature projects.

  1. EU Ports Strategy & Project Development Instruments
  2. Green Transition & Decarbonisation
  3. Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience
  4. Economic Analysis
  5. Port Development, Environmental & Social
  6. PPPs & Procurement Strategy
  7. Port-City Integration & Interconnectivity
@EIB

Trainings delivered and resources

  1. Kick-off Webinar. EU Ports Strategy for Small and Medium-Sized TEN-T Ports 24.06.2026

Questions?

For any further enquiry on this webinar and in general on the activities of the JASPERS Knowledge Platform please write an email to jaspersnetwork@eib.org