The Netherlands, together with the other 6 countries, wants to ensure that the security of European ports is adequately guaranteed everywhere, with common security standards. The C7 also considers it important to better detect corruption in the ports. Additionally, the countries believe it is essential to promote cooperation with source and transit countries and to share information among relevant organizations.
Due to its expertise in port security, the Netherlands plays a leading role in promoting the resilience of European ports. The European Port Alliance is largely inspired by the existing cooperation between the Netherlands and Belgium. The ‘steering committee’ among the ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Hamburg is notably highlighted in the advice as a best practice regarding the collaboration between public-private partners.
Minister Van Weel (Justice and Security): “By ensuring that European ports are made resilient against organized crime, we can work together to ensure safety in our ports. Drug criminals threaten and intimidate everyone to further their illegal practices. Think of judges, prosecutors, police officers, journalists, and mayors. But also, workers in the port, an important transit location for drugs, must be made resilient against the practices of drug criminals. We must do this together.”
With the presentation of this advice, the C7 exerts influence on the further elaboration of the ambitions within the European Port Alliance, particularly in the area of public-private collaborations. This contributes to the Dutch ambition to make Europe more resilient against and less attractive for organized drug crime through international collaborations.