Madeiran MEP Sérgio Gonçalves has met with Disney representatives in Strasbourg to discuss current strategies with the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN).
Disney’s delegation was led by Thomas Spiller, Vice President for global public policy, accompanied by executive director Federica Rampulla. The American multinational highlighted the company’s growing investment in the cruise sector, at a time when it is investing 10 billion dollars into the building of four new ships in German shipyards. The company reinforced its commitment to the European shipping industry and stressed that all its ships are produced in Europe.
However, the scarcity of green fuels in European ports is considered a risk factor for these investments. “We want to make this transition, the technology exists, the ships are ready, but the ports still do not offer these alternatives,” he said, calling for more speed in aligning European port management with carbon neutrality objectives.
Sérgio Gonçalves stressed that this is an open topic in the European Parliament. “The European Strategy for Ports will soon be discussed, which will focus on this and other relevant topics, to create a coordinated and integrated vision to accelerate the decarbonisation of the sector and create more green jobs in coastal regions.”
The Madeiran MEP also recalled the example of Malta, where he visited last month, and where there are already infrastructures for electricity connection on land that allow ships to turn off their engines while they are docked, significantly reducing emissions in urban port areas.
Disney also indicated that the next ships will be smaller, allowing access to less saturated destinations and more suited to the personalised experience that its customers are looking for. This change, they said, responds both to the company’s environmental concerns and to passengers’ demand for alternative routes to large tourist centres which are becoming heavily congested.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
