On 16 September 2025, the European Commission marked the first anniversary of the Draghi Report on European competitiveness with a high-level conference opened by President Ursula von der Leyen and Mario Draghi. The event provided an important opportunity to reflect on the progress achieved and the challenges still ahead.

President von der Leyen underlined that the Commission has sought to translate many of Draghi’s recommendations into action through the Competitiveness Compass and a series of simplification packages, which she presented as central to reducing the administrative burden on companies. According to the Commission, these measures have already delivered tangible savings for European businesses.

Mario Draghi, however, reminded participants that the EU cannot afford complacency. He stressed that regulatory complexity, slow permitting procedures, and fragmentation of the single market continue to weigh on competitiveness. Unless these obstacles are removed, Europe risks falling further behind in a global economy defined by rapid technological change and intensifying competition.

For the port and terminal sector, these debates resonate strongly. Simplification and predictable rules are essential to reduce compliance costs, facilitate cross-border operations, and attract the investments needed for the twin transition. At the same time, the wider reforms called for by Draghi—completing the single market, deepening capital markets, and accelerating industrial investment—are directly linked to the capacity of Europe’s maritime supply chains to remain competitive and resilient.

As gateways for trade and key nodes of Europe’s logistics ecosystem, ports and terminals both depend on and contribute to the EU’s long-term competitiveness. The Draghi Report and the Commission’s follow-up measures therefore matter not only for industry at large but also for the sustainability and efficiency of maritime logistics. FEPORT will continue to highlight the importance of pragmatic, forward-looking regulation that enables terminals to play their role as enablers of Europe’s economic security.
Source: FEPORT