The Spanish Popular Party has expressed concern to the European Commission regarding the decision of two major European shipping companies, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, to divert their stops in Spain to ports in Morocco, negatively impacting Algeciras and Valencia, respectively, according to the Iberian media outlet.
Last week, Danish Maersk announced it would stop docking at Algeciras on its route between the United States and Asia, favoring Tangier Med instead. Despite Algeciras achieving a record 103.6 million tons of cargo in 2024, this decision comes amid challenges like the Ukraine crisis, tensions in the Red Sea, and strikes at Acerinox.
The Spanish media mentioned that “PP MEPs Juan Ignacio Zoido and Borja Giménez have formally questioned the European Commission about measures to keep European ports attractive and relevant.”
The same source added, “the MEPs argue that the shift represents a loss of competitiveness and a clear example of carbon emissions leakage. The redirection to non-EU ports exempts these companies from paying the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) fees introduced in January 2024, allowing operators to avoid environmental levies.”
Zoido, the PP’s spokesperson on the International Trade Committee, called Maersk’s move to Tangier Med a “serious warning” about the potential reactions of businesses to EU-imposed commercial taxes.
He emphasized that “these charges are especially harmful to Algeciras, which faces direct competition from Tangier, just kilometers away and free from such environmental tolls.”
Zoido highlighted the importance of Algeciras to Spain’s economy, noting that much of its cargo activity stems from Maersk’s operations. He urged the EU to balance environmental goals with the competitiveness of European businesses.
For his part, Giménez Larraz, a member of the Transport and Tourism Committee, called the issue critical for both EU port competitiveness and climate goals.
He noted that operators evading EU regulations still contribute to global pollution, undermining the bloc’s decarbonization efforts.
The PP MEP urged the European Commission to clarify its strategies for safeguarding EU competitiveness while promoting sustainability and climate neutrality.
He also warned of the geostrategic risk of the EU losing vital logistics chains to North African ports.
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