The 21st Annual Conference of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) will take place on May 8-9, 2025, in Thessaloniki, a city renowned for its history, vibrant culture, and gastronomy. Thessaloniki, home to Northern Greece’s most prominent port and a strategic gateway to the Balkans and Southeastern Europe, provides an ideal setting for this prestigious event.
As a crossroads of civilizations for over 2,300 years, Thessaloniki showcases a unique blend of Western and Eastern traditions. Its 15 UNESCO World Heritage sites and over 30 museums underline the city’s deep historical and cultural significance, making it a fitting backdrop for the conference’s forward-looking discussions.
The ESPO Conference is the annual highlight for Europe’s port community, offering a platform for networking, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration. This landmark event gathers a wide range of stakeholders—including members, port professionals, high-level policymakers, academics, and experts—who engage in panel discussions, technical debates, and the exchange of best practices to address challenges and shape the future of ports and the maritime sector.
Now in its 21st edition, the conference will revolve around the theme “Towards a Strategy for Europe’s Ports in the Post-2024 Era.” Discussions will focus on critical topics such as:
- Resilience
- Geopolitical tensions
- Global market
- Energy transition
- Emerging trends
- Future challenges
These discussions aim to pave the way for a sustainable, smart, and competitive Europe, where ports increasingly act as logistics and energy hubs, trade gateways, and industrial clusters.
A key highlight of this year’s edition will be the participation of Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the new European Commissioner for Transport and Tourism, who will lead the debate on the forthcoming EU Port Strategy.
The conference will take place at the iconic Makedonia Palace Hotel, located near Thessaloniki’s emblematic White Tower, a symbol of the city’s rich history and dynamic present. The venue embodies the perfect synergy of historical significance and forward-looking ambition.
In today’s international context, with growing vulnerabilities and an urgent need for decisive action, the ESPO Conference invites the European port community—including ports, stakeholders, and policymakers—to come together to share insights, take stock of achievements, and chart a collective path forward. The event provides a unique opportunity to advance Europe’s ambitions and develop concrete policies, ensuring that ports continue to play a critical and strategic role in driving sustainable, resilient, and smart growth for the continent.
The programme and information details are available on the official ESPO conference website:
https://www.espo-conference.com/
For practical questions please refer to:
ESPO Secretariat
E-mail: chiara.mantovano@espo.be
Website: https://www.espo.be/