LISBON – The Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community held its 16th Technical Committee meeting on Waterborne Transport and Multimodality at the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) on 25 February 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Western Balkans, observing participants (Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine), EU institutions, and international organisations to discuss how EU technical assistance can better support safer, greener, and more efficient waterborne transport.
Discussions focused on how countries are moving forward with reforms under the Transport Community’s Next Generation Action Plan for Waterborne Transport and Multimodality. Participants reviewed what has already been achieved, what is currently underway, and where additional effort is still needed.
Special attention was given to improving maritime safety and environmental protection, advancing digital solutions in ports and waterways, strengthening connections between ports, rail, and road, and ensuring ports are ready to meet EU standards.
EMSA presented its ongoing technical assistance to partners in the Western Balkans and observing participants. Additional support opportunities were presented by the European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE) and the World Bank, including financing tools and capacity-building programmes for the maritime sector.
The meeting underlined that well-functioning ports help keep supply chains moving, support trade, and connect the region more closely with the EU transport market. Better integration of ports into European transport corridors was highlighted as a shared priority.
Participation of experts from the observing participants was financed by the European Union under the grant NDICI-GEO-NEAR/2023/452688 to the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, supporting preparatory activities for the progressive involvement of Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine in the activities of the Transport Community.
