Athens, Greece. Greece and Cyprus are forming a Mediterranean alignment ahead of talks on maritime decarbonisation at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), as southern EU shipping states push for a slower transition. The stance highlights widening divisions within the European Union on shipping climate policy.
Formation of a Mediterranean alignment
Malta has joined Greece and Cyprus, while Italy and Spain are converging on the same position, creating what shipping sources describe as a coordinated front with significant maritime weight, as mentioned in Newmoney. France is monitoring developments without committing to a position.
Concerns over pace, technology and competitiveness
The alignment is driven by shared structural concerns, with all five countries maintaining large shipowning communities, sizeable registries and heavy dependence on maritime activity. Shipping sources said the group is advocating a more gradual transition, technological neutrality and the avoidance of measures that would undermine the competitiveness of the European fleet, amid concerns that European climate policy could move ahead of technological realities.
Division with northern EU states
The Mediterranean capitals’ approach contrasts with the position of northern states such as Germany and Denmark, which favour faster binding measures.
Dispute over European Commission plan targeting Russian oil shipping
Tensions are also rising over the European Commission’s plan to ban shipping services for Russian oil by removing the price-cap mechanism. Greek officials have moved to freeze the initiative, warning it would further weaken the competitiveness of EU shipping, which they consider vital for the Union’s energy and food security, while the Commission continues to press forward.
Fuel availability and global consensus
At the centre of the Mediterranean position is the view that shipping cannot bear the cost of transition alone while green fuels remain scarce, bunkering infrastructure is insufficient and global consensus is absent. Union of Greek Shipowners’ president Melina Travlou has raised similar concerns, citing previous attempts at international agreement that failed to gather sufficient support, with numerous major registry states backing the suspension of the process.
How should the European Union balance faster maritime emissions cuts with competitiveness concerns raised by major shipowning states?