The secretariat of the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has received from nine ports their submissions for the 16th edition of the organisation's award.
In accordance with this year’s theme, “Port projects of strategies in the field of circular economy that benefit the city and/or the surrounding community”, the ESPO Award 2024 will go to the port managing body which has developed a circular economy strategy and/or a significant circular economy project involving different stakeholders in or around the port. The award aims to honour efforts that actively engage the port and benefit the surrounding community through circular economy activities.
ESPO members can send their applications until Friday 5 July.
The following nine applications will be running for the ESPO Award 2024: Port Antwerp-Bruges (Belgium), Port of Hirtshals (Denmark), Port of Gdansk (Poland), Port of Bilbao (Spain), Port Authority of Castellón (Spain), Port Authority of Huelva (Spain), Port of Las Palmas (Spain), Port of Sevilla (Spain), Gothenburg Port Authority (Sweden) (-listed in alphabetical order by country).
The ESPO Award winning port is selected by an independent jury of international experts, under the Chairmanship of Eamonn O ‘Reilly, former Chair of ESPO (and the former Chief Executive of Dublin Port Company).
“This 16th edition of the ESPO Award provides an opportunity for ports to showcase how they contribute to the circular economy. The strength and quality of the nine applications demonstrates the commitment of European ports to support sustainable solutions to climate change as a core part of their strategies”.
To promote the efforts made by different European Ports in improving city-port relations through innovative projects, ESPO established the ESPO Award on Societal Integration of Ports in 2009.
The winner will be announced at the ESPO Award Ceremony and Dinner taking place on November 6 at the Albert Hall in Brussels. The ESPO Award painting 2024 will be part of a series created exclusively for ESPO by Dutch painter Sasja Hagens.
ESPO represents the port authorities, port associations and port administrations of the seaports of 21 Member States of the European Union and Norway at EU political level. The organisation also has observer members in Albania, Iceland, Israel, Montenegro, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
