Pier Pressure: Seaports are not only conduits for European trade, but also hubs for research, and the development of industrial and environmental innovations. However, European ports face a regulatory environment fragmented between the European and national levels and infiltration by drug trafficking networks, hindering investment needed to keep pace with growing worldwide competition and decarbonization commitments. With this in mind, what can the EU do to ensure European ports fulfill their economic and societal potential?