EFIP Members Meet in Strasbourg to Celebrate 100 Years of the Port and Attend the Assises du Port du Futur
Press Releases
23 September 2026
On Wednesday, 23 September 2026, EFIP members gathered in Strasbourg for their annual Executive Committee Meeting, hosted by AFPI (Association Française des Ports Intérieurs). The meeting took place on a particularly festive occasion, as members also joined the celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of the Port of Strasbourg and participated in the Assises du Port du Futur (River Summit).
The River Summit brought together representatives from across the port and transport sectors to exchange views on the future of ports and inland navigation. Discussions focused on the role of ports as hubs for European cooperation, as well as on operational strategies and economic challenges facing the sector. Attention was also given to transport corridors, rail connectivity and river logistics. The programme was complemented by professional workshops, discussions on careers in the port sector and the presentation of innovation awards.
A fruitful exchange among EFIP members and partners
The EFIP Executive Committee Meeting provided a valuable opportunity for members to exchange views on current priorities and developments affecting Europe’s inland ports. The programme began with a discussion between EFIP members and AFPI, followed by an Open Session with Hester Duursema from the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR), who contributed to the Open Session with insights into supporting inland navigation during periods of low water, an important challenge for resilient and reliable inland waterway transport.
Following the meeting, Executive Committee members took part in a guided cruise through the ports of Strasbourg and Kehl. The day concluded with a boat dinner together with participants of the River Summit, providing a convivial setting to continue discussions, strengthen relationships and celebrate a century of port activity in Strasbourg.
Claire Merlin, President of AFPI, said: “Hosting the EFIP Executive Committee in Strasbourg during the centenary celebrations of the Port and the river summit offered a unique opportunity to highlight the strategic role of inland ports hubs in Europe’s transport and logistics network. The discussions held throughout the day demonstrated the strength of cooperation between port authorities, industry stakeholders and European institutions in addressing common challenges. At a time when decarbonisation, multimodality and supply chain resilience are becoming increasingly important, inland ports have a key contribution to make. We were delighted to welcome our European partners to Strasbourg and to share this symbolic milestone with them, while looking together towards the future of inland waterway transport.”
Uwe Köhn, President of EFIP, added: “EFIP was very happy to be in Strasbourg to celebrate its 100-year anniversary. The Port Autonomy de Strasbourg has been a corner stone of European inland shipping history, as it has been a long time Rhine shipping hub and has hosted essential navigations related institutions such as the CCNR. To this day PAS remain one of the front leaders in our sector and a foundational member of our federation.”
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