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2025 EuDA Annual Conference at Stanhope Hotel Brussels
“EU’s Waterborne Critical Infrastructure: facing new Global Challenges, Risks and Threats”

20 November 2025
With a series of unprecedented global crises in the last 6 years, Europe’s resilience was extensively tested, and key vulnerabilities were revealed: Europe’s economy is highly dependent on global supply chains, highly dependent on too limited sources for its energy supply and highly dependent for its defence on partners with more volatile interests and priorities.
Europe needs and has started to take action to guarantee the well-functioning of its supply chains, to develop reliable alternatives to fossil fuels and to secure peace through military preparedness. Military preparedness requires amongst other effective and efficient transport, communication and energy networks that are resilient to climate change and also to … enemy action (hacking, sabotage, bombing, …). After decades of peace, most of Europe’s infrastructure was designed without consideration for intentional harm from external parties. New threats and risks to infrastructure require accordingly adapted designs and protections.
In this context, the oceans and the rivers offer key opportunities but also new sources of vulnerability. Waterborne transport infrastructures, offshore energy infrastructures and undersea communication infrastructures need to be secured, upgraded and maintained for dual use (both civil and military) to withstand the consequences of climate change as well as the consequences of actions of intentional harm/ enemy action.
To further develop an EU Open Strategic Autonomy that will secure the most basic needs (in terms of food, supplies and services) as well as the most sophisticated needs of its population and industry, Europe needs to invest in the resilience of its most critical infrastructure.
In its 2025 Annual Conference, EuDA would like to focus on critical waterborne infrastructures. Experts and specialists will present their views and experience the newly identified risks and threats that Europe’s waterborne infrastructures are facing and consider the key role of the European dredgers in building, maintaining and protecting them as well as increasing their resilience to the newly identifies risks and threats.

Conference Overview:

Conference Opening
Mr Marc Van den Broeck – EuDA Chairman
Conference Moderation
Mr Paris Sansoglou – EuDA Secretary General
Short introduction of the conference theme and speakers
Setting the Scene: New Geopolitical and Security Landscape
New Geopolitical Challenges, Risks and Threats to Europe’s Critical Infrastructures
Flanders Ministry of Mobility, Public Works, Harbors and Sport
Ms Melina Lê Presentation
Dual Use Requirements
New Military Requirements and Expectations from European Infrastructure
NATO Defence Enablement and Resilience Directorate, Resilience Section
Ms Lemonia Tsaroucha
The EU’s Plans, Strategies and Actions
Overview of the European Strategies for Security-resilient Waterborne Infrastructure
European Commission, DG MOVE, Director for Waterborne Transport
Ms Fotini Ioannidou
Example of Strategic Dredging Project
The strategic and security challenges of the construction of the Princess Elisabeth Island (BE)
Elia Group, Project Leader Offshore
Mr Pierre-Yves Guillermin Presentation

View the Conference Programme in detail.
EuDA @ European Shipping Summit 2025

EuDA @ European Shipping Summit 2025
Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels

19 – 20 March 2025

2024 EuDA Annual Conference at Stanhope Hotel Brussels
“Making Waterborne Infrastructure Projects Sustainable.”

21 November 2024

2023 EuDA Annual Conference at Stanhope Hotel Brussels
“Blue Economic Actors and Assets, Critical to deliver Europe’s Open Strategic Autonomy”

21 November 2023

EuDA @ European Shipping Summit
Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels
EuDA Session on “Maritime transport, enabling Europe’s open strategic autonomy through the Global Gateway”

19 September 2023

2022 EUDA Annual Conference at Sofitel Brussels Europe
“The European Green Deal: How to deliver on the environment, the society and the economy?”

23 November 2022

EuDA Internal Workshop on
“EU Emissions Trading System & Other ‘Fit For 55’ Initiatives For Dredgers”

Wednesday 16 February 2022, 10.00 Via Ms Teams

European Shipping Week 2020
EuDA’s Brainstorming Workshop
“Trade Defence Instruments for Services or Enforcement of State Aid Regulations to all non-EU State-owned Enterprises ?”

Monday 17 February 2020 – The Hotel, Brussels

2019 EUDA Annual Conference at Stanhope Hotel Brussels
“SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT OF WATERBORNE INFRASTRUCTURES”

14 November 2019

2018 EUDA 25th Anniversary – Annual Conference at Bibliothèque Solvay in Brussels
“THE EUROPEAN DREDGING INDUSTRY ADDING VALUE TO SOCIETY WORLDWIDE”

15 November 2018

2017 EUDA Annual Conference at Stanhope Hotel Brussels
“PROTECTIONISM:
MEDICINE TO A RIGHT ILLNESS OR POISON PILL?”

15 November 2017

2016 EuDA Annual Conference, at Stanhope Hotel Brussels
GLOBAL CO2 EMISSIONS:
New Opportunities for the European Dredgers?

15 November 2016

PIANC’s ‘Think Climate’ coalition
UN FCCC COP 21 Paris

30 November-6 December 2015

2015 EuDA Annual General Meeting Conference, at Stanhope Hotel Brussels
'State Aid and Tied Aid'
Different Approaches to Global Competition

17 November 2015

ACI’s European Dredging Summit, Antwerp, Belgium
‘Gaining Project Approval, welcoming efficient & environmentally-sensitive Dredging Operations’
Supported by EuDA

7-8 October 2015

EuDA-CEDA joint Workshop at European Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen
‘Sustainable Dredging Approaches to Climate Change Adaptation’
Solutions from the European Dredging Community

12 May 2015

Innovations improving Maritime Safety, at Port of Zeebrugge

5 March 2015

2014 EuDA Annual General Meeting Conference, at Stanhope Hotel Brussels
'Breaking Trade Barriers Around The World'
Special focus on the World Dredging Markets

13 November 2014

EuDA 20th Anniversary Celebration, at Bibliothèque Solvay
'The European Dredging Industry: A Maritime Success Story'

7 November 2013

EuDA Annual General Meeting Conference, at Stanhope Hotel
'Measures to reduce CO2 Emissions from Shipping'
Review of current Legislation & Policies

14 November 2012

EuDA Annual General Meeting Open-Part, at Sheraton Brussels Airport
'Threats and Opportunities from the Sea'
European Dredgers' contribution to some of the World's biggest Challenges

16 November 2011

Belgian Presidency Event with EuDA
'The European Dredging Industry presented to the European Council Shipping Working Group',
Aalst (BE) & Heusden (NL).

15 December 2010

EuDA Annual General Meeting Open-Part, at Sheraton Brussels Airport
"Man & Nature" Key Sustainable Issues for the European Dredgers

16 November 2010

Workshop on Green Innovations keep the European Dredgers at global leading edge,
Brussels, Silken Hotel.

3 November 2010

Workshop on Dredged Material and the Implementation of the new EU Waste Directive,
Brussels, EuDA offices.

29 April 2010

EuDA Annual General Assembly : Future Developments concerning State Aid to EU Maritime Transport, in the light of the rising threat from China

2009

The 32nd IADC International Seminar on Dredging and Reclamation will take place,
in Delft, the Netherlands

15 -19 June 2009

EuDA Workshop 'Emissions' Presentations, Brussels, Belgium

6 November 2008

30th International Seminar on Dredging and Reclamation, Delft, The Netherlands

16 - 20 June 2008

Black Sea Coastal Association Varna, Bulgaria

25 - 27 September 2007

Seminar on Ports and Habitats

20 March 2003

Workshop "Waterways of Tomorrow"

09 December 2003