Construction of a container port

Question for written answer  E-002031/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Angel Dzhambazki (ECR)

Ports in the EU handle over 55 million TEU in container cargo each year, with 70% of that cargo entering Europe from the Far East. 5.5 million TEU is destined for Central and Eastern Europe, but goes via ports in north-west Europe.

Total China-to-Europe freight turnover exceeds USD 321 billion a year and is steadily rising, while the main fleet of container vessels, which is currently working the Asia-Europe-Black Sea corridor, is of the Panamax and Post-Panamax type. In Europe, environmental protection pressures will push up the cost of land transport and create the need to develop maritime transport and construct new port facilities at deepwater container terminals on the Black Sea.

Currently, the only European port on the Black Sea serving the main maritime route for container units from Asia to Europe is the port of Constanța.

• 1.Does the Commission view the construction of a second port to serve that route for container units as a strategic project in view of the burgeoning trade in goods with the Far East?
• 2.What options does the Commission have to finance such a project?