Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Italy align on shipping carbon rules

Cyprus, Greece, Malta, and Italy have reached an agreement to coordinate their stances on both the EU's existing and upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations aimed at reducing shipping emissions. During a ministerial meeting in Limassol, Cyprus, the four countries emphasized the need for "realistic, globally applicable, and cost-effective" regulations.

They agreed to collaborate in future EU and IMO negotiations while striving for the "widest possible consensus" on measures that support the transition to green fuels in shipping while maintaining the sector's competitiveness. The joint declaration adopted after the meeting highlights that shipping regulations should cater to the practical requirements of the global shipping industry and be developed in consultation with the industry.

The countries called upon the IMO to formulate globally applicable measures that ensure a level playing field for international shipping. All four nations voted in favor of endorsing the IMO's Net-Zero Framework for consideration at the MEPC 83 in April 2025. However, Greece and Cyprus abstained from voting to postpone the adoption of the NZF by deferring the MEPC ES.2 meeting by a year, while Italy and Malta voted against the delay.

At the EU level, the four countries committed to collaborating with the European Commission and other member states in upcoming discussions about the EU ETS. The meeting featured Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis, Greek Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Minister Vasilis Kikilias, Malta’s Sustainable Mobility Minister Chris Bonett, and Italy’s Deputy Infrastructure and Transport Minister Edoardo Rixi, who joined remotely.