Cost-cutting measures and inadequate governance have rendered Europe’s transport system, particularly the maritime sector, ill-equipped for crises such as the ongoing conflict in Iran, according to the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF). In an open letter dated April 2, addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the ETF highlights the escalating risks faced by seafarers in affected areas. Many of these workers, including over 20,000 EU nationals aboard EU-owned vessels, are currently stranded due to the conflict, facing longer voyages and increased security threats.
The ETF criticizes the European response as fragmented and ineffective, noting a lack of coordinated safety corridors, reliable emergency repatriation options, and enforceable protection standards. This situation reflects a broader structural failure within the transport system, which has been shaped by years of political decisions promoting intra-EU competition focused on cost-cutting. This approach has left European entities vulnerable to unfair global competition, leading to fragmented governance and a reliance on third countries for essential transport services.
To address these issues, the ETF has urged the European Commission to prioritize three key actions: establishing binding crisis and safety frameworks across all transport sectors that emphasize worker protections, ensuring that crises do not result in reduced jobs and working conditions, and developing robust transport preparedness strategies in consultation with social partners. The Commission has been asked to initiate this process by organizing a high-level roundtable aimed at formulating a resilience strategy for long-term systemic change.
Nautilus International, an affiliate of the ETF, supports these demands. General Secretary Mark Dickinson stated that the Federation’s initiatives align with Nautilus’s advocacy for nations to enhance their economic and defensive resilience by investing in their Merchant Navies and implementing cabotage laws. Recently, Nautilus has released two policy reports on these subjects, available for free download on the Union’s website.
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