The European Federation of Private Port Operators and Terminals (FEPORT) says carbon allowance relief for ships should depend on where a cargo is finally going. In a statement on its website, it argues this would stop cargo and routes shifting to ports outside the EU.
The issue also affects Bulgarian ports. National Statistical Institute data show Bulgaria's sea ports handled 27.49m tonnes of cargo in 2025. That is 6.9% less than the 29.5m tonnes in 2024. Imports accounted for 13.8m tonnes unloaded, and exports for 13.6m tonnes loaded. The figures leave out ports run by government bodies. The total also does not show what share of containers is bound for markets outside the EU.
FEPORT groups private port companies and terminal operators from the EU, Norway and Turkey. It says it counts 2,290 companies and operators that handle cargo and logistics in sea ports.
Since 1 January 2024, the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) has also covered shipping. The rules apply to ships of 5,000 gross tonnage and above that carry commercial cargo or passengers. Their companies must buy and hand in emission allowances. On a trip between two ports in the European Economic Area, all emissions count, plus those the ship makes while in port. If one port lies outside the area, 50% of the emissions on the route count.
The obligations grow in stages. In 2025, companies had to hand in allowances for 40% of their 2024 emissions. In 2026, they hand in allowances for 70% of their 2025 emissions. From 2027, allowances will cover 100% of reported emissions. From 2026, the system also covers methane and nitrous oxide, not only carbon dioxide.
FEPORT fears the cost of allowances could lead shipping lines to change routes and move part of their work outside the EU. The federation says European terminals would then lose transit and transhipment cargo, and the related economic activity would go to neighbouring countries.
It backs what it calls a cargo-based approach. Under it, ships that unload containers in an EU port for transhipment to markets outside the bloc would face fewer allowance obligations. FEPORT wants this to apply to all ships arriving in EU ports, not only on certain voyages.
The federation looked at three options. The first cuts allowances based on the distance between the EU port and the non-EU port the ship comes from. The second exempts some EU ports that face strong international competition from the system. FEPORT chose the third, under which relief depends on the share of containers bound for markets outside the EU. That means it depends on where the cargo is going, not on routes or ports.
FEPORT secretary general Lamia Kerdjoudj said relief based on distance could push companies to call at fewer ports or use more distant ports outside the EU. She said exempting some ports would put the others at a disadvantage and weaken the incentive to cut emissions.
On 17 July 2026, the European Commission put forward a proposal for a targeted review of the system. It adds shipping rules against evasion and against moving activity outside the system's scope. It also provides stronger protection against evasion by container ships and ships used in offshore work. Some exemptions and the way the rules are applied will also be reviewed.
The proposal is part of a change to the emissions trading directive. The European Parliament is due to take it up in a first reading in plenary, around 14 December 2026. The Council of the EU must also adopt a position. The two bodies want to reach a deal in the first quarter of 2027.