NET-ZERO, RESILIENT AND COMPETITIVE PORTS: ACTING NOW TO DELIVER TOMORROW

We are delighted to welcome you on 25 and 26 April in the heart of Paris for the 20th edition of the Annual Conference of the European Sea Ports Organisation. This year’s conference will be organised together with Union des Ports de France, our host of this truly special, Olympic edition. The conference will take place at Comet Bourse, a state-of-the-art conference venue in the city’s 2nd Arrondissement.  

Also in 2024, the new normal will most likely be defined by disruption, geo-economic and geo-political tensions leading to more frequent disruptions to supply chains, greater volatility on the energy markets and a fiercer international competition. Adding to this, the need to act and progress on the ambitions and concrete policies that Europe has put in place over the last five years, it is clear there is a lot to discuss. So, reasons enough for the European port community to gather in Paris, for ports and port stakeholders to put their heads together and share knowledge, try to take stock and pave together the way towards a sustainable, resilient, smart and more competitive Europe, in which ports are playing more than ever a critical and strategic role. 

So, what have we planned for you? 

On the first day of the conference, delegates will hear from experts about the geopolitical, economic and energy perspectives for Europe’s ports. After these scene-setting presentations, three port academics will discuss how they view the future of ports in this world in transition. This will be followed by an out-of-the-box presentation on how ports could increasingly be the resource for the city. The floor will then be given to some port CEOs to comment.  

In the afternoon of day one, we will focus on implementation. Coming towards the end of the five-year European political cycle and preparing for a new Commission and Parliament, we want to take stock of what has been agreed over the last years, and what needs to be done to support the implementation of Europe’s policy and legislative initiatives in the most effective way. 

Be it on meeting the hydrogen production and import targets, on defining the role of ports when it comes to carbon capture and storage, on the implementation of the EU-ETS maritime, or on corporate sustainable reporting and due diligence, experts will explain where we stand and which challenges are to be faced to make it happen. Ports will share their experiences. The final presentation on day one will introduce the participants in the world of Artificial Intelligence, who knows, maybe the biggest gamechanger after all.

On day two of the conference, we will talk about investments. What is the investment outlook of Europe’s ports? Which categories of investments prevail for the next ten years? What are the total investment needs of European ports? The new ESPO Port Investments Study will offer a detailed insight in these questions. Secondly, we will focus on how all these investments can actually be financed. What is the role of banks in financing sustainable port projects? What is CINEA's experience when it comes to ports' projects ? What has the Commission in mind for ports and port investments when it comes to preparing the new Connecting Europe Facility? 

We continue the morning discussions looking at how to strengthen the resilience of ports given their strategic character, while at the same time support them further in their role as Europe’s main commercial door to the world. 

As usual, we will end the conference with a political debate, where we will take stock of the last five years and look at the priorities ahead. Speeding up on decarbonisation, enhancing resilience, strengthening competitiveness - how best to make this happen?

We already have an interesting line-up of confirmed speakers and more are yet to come. So, also this year’s ESPO Conference will combine eye-opening speeches and contributions with more hands-on practical sessions, and fruitful discussions between ports, port stakeholders and policy makers.

But also this year, we do not end a Conference day with the last speech. On the evening of 25 April, our hosts, the Union des Ports de France, invites us for an exquisite conference dinner in the Musée des Arts Forains at the Pavillons de Bercy, a venue worth a fairytale. 

So, many reasons to register now for the Conference,  book your hotel and start preparing to join us in Paris!  We are happy to share with you a list of recommended hotels in the typical Parisian style, in different price categories, all centrally located, at walking distance of the venue, Comet bourse. Since we are just a couple of months away from the Olympics, Paris is getting very busy. So do not wait to secure your accommodation!

Click here to register

PROGRAMME


Please find below the detailed programme and speakers. 

25 April

08:30

REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE


09:00

Moderator of the opening sessions: Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General, ESPO

OPENING SESSION

Welcome

Zeno D'Agostino, Chair, ESPO
Jean Pierre Chalus, President, Union des Ports de France
09:15

OPENING ADDRESS

Patrice Vergriete, French Minister of Transport (invited)
09:30

GEOPOLITICAL OUTLOOK

Dr. Alexandra de Hoop SchefferSenior Vice President, Geostrategy, Executive Team Member, The German Marshall Fund of the United States  

10:00

MACRO-ECONOMIC OUTLOOK FOR PORTS

Tim Power, Managing Director, Drewry

Q&A

10:30

ENERGY OUTLOOK

Hari Vamadevan, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, UK & Ireland, Energy Systems, DNV 

Q&A

11:00

COFFEE BREAK


11:30

PORTS AS RESOURCE FOR THE CITY

Birgit LioddenCEO, The Ocean opportunity lab


11:50

Moderator of the day: Charlotte KanJournalist, master of Ceremonies, moderator

THE ACADEMIC ROUNDTABLE: PORTS IN TRANSITION

Fireside chat between:

Theo Notteboom, Chair Professor, Maritime Institute of Ghent University

Thanos PallisProfessor of Ports and Shipping Economics and Policy, Department of Maritime Studies,University of Piraeus, Greece

Indra Vonck, Professor, University of Brussels, and Partner, MTBS 

12:30

LUNCH 

13:45

THE PORT BUSINESS DEBATE 

Daan Schalck,  CEO, North Sea Port

Hervé Martel, CEO, Port of Marseille Fos 

Jens Meier, CEO, Hamburg Port Authority

Ville Haapasaari, CEO, Port of Helsinki Ltd

Christine Cabau WoehrelExecutive Vice President for Assets and Operations, CMA CGM Group

14:25

THE IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGE: TIME TO ACT

Mirela Atanasiu, Executive Director ad Interim, Clean Hydrogen Partnership: How to achieve the EU hydrogen production and import goals: what is the role of ports?

Michal Wendolowski, Senior Climate Technology and Policy Manager (CEE),  Bellona Europe: Carbon Capture and Storage: Ports as intermediary between CO2 emitters and storage

Jan-Frederik Konerding, Partner, KPMG: The Corporate Sustainable Reporting and the Corporate Sustainable Due Diligence Directive Due Diligence: how to translate it to the port ecosystem?

Michiel Verduijn, Senior Economist, Royal HaskoningDHV: ETS-EU maritime:  What is the impact on European transshipment and use of alternative fuels?

15:45

COFFEE BREAK

16:15

REACTION OF THE PORTS

Tomasz  Braun, Head of Strategy, Port of Gdansk Authority

Capt David Bugeja, Chief Officer, Office of the Chairman & CEO, Transport Malta (TM)

Algis LatakasCEO, Port of Klaipeda

Pino MusolinoPresident of Civitavecchia Port and President, MEDPorts Association

16:45

IS ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE A TIME AND COST SAVER, A SECURITY AND EFFICIENCY TOOL FOR PORTS OR A RISK FOR SOCIETY?

Alain GoossensManaging Partner BE-Wallonia, Sparkle NV

17.15

END OF CONFERENCE DAY 1

19:30

CONFERENCE GALA DINNER
Musée des Arts Forains - Pavillons de Bercy - 53 Avenue des Terroirs de France, 75012 Paris France



26 April


08:45

Moderator of the day: Anna Gumbau, journalist and event moderator

WELCOME COFFEE

09:00

MORNING CHAT WITH OUR NEIGHBOURING PORTS

09:30

ROLE OF COMMERCIAL BANKS IN FINANCING SUSTAINABLE PORT PROJECTS

Arash Mojabi, UK Lead - Sustainable Finance, ING

09.50

THE INVESTMENT OUTLOOK FOR EUROPE'S PORTS

Presentation of the ESPO study “Port investment needs of European ports” by Peter de LangenPrincipal consultant & owner, Ports & Logistics Advisory

10:10

Followed by a debate with 
Olivier SillaHead of Department, CINEA CEF (Connecting Europe Facility)

Benoît RochetCEO, Port Boulogne - Calais

...., Port of Valencia

Ansis  Zeltiņš, CEO, Port of Riga

10:40

COFFEE BREAK

11:10

FOREIGN INVESTMENTS INTO EUROPEAN PORTS: NEW CONTROL MECHANISMS?

Presentation by Damien Levie, Head of Unit FDI screening,  DG TRADE  

Q&A

11:35

THE REVIEW OF THE FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT SCREENING DIRECTIVE: THE WAY FORWARD

Herald Ruijters, Deputy Director of DG MOVE, European Commission 

Q&A

12:05

END OF A PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE -THE BIG POLICY DEBATE 

Karima Delli, MEP and Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, European Parliament

Herald Ruijters, Deputy Director of DG MOVE, European Commission 

Luís Cacho, President, Ports of Sines and the Algarve (APS)

Stéphane Raison, CEO, HAROPA Port

Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO, Port of Antwerp-Bruges

12:50

CLOSING OF THE ESPO CONFERENCE 2024

Zeno D'Agostino, Chair, ESPO

12:55

ANNOUNCEMENT ESPO CONFERENCE 2025

13:00

END OF THE CONFERENCE AND DEPARTURE OF BOAT TOUR

14:30

BEGINNING OF BOAT TOUR

16:30

END OF BOAT TOUR
Boarding and disembarkation will take place at the port of Pont-Neuf.






Speakers

25 April
08:30
Secretary General, ESPO
25 April
09:00
Chair, ESPO
25 April
09:00
President, Union des ports de France
25 April
09:30
Senior Vice President, Geostrategy, Executive Team Member, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
25 April
10:00²
Managing Director, Drewry
25 April
10:30
Senior Vice President and Regional Director, UK & Ireland, Energy Systems, DNV
25 April
11:30
CEO, the Ocean Opportunity Lab
25 April
11:50
Journalist, Master of Ceremonies and moderator
25 April
11:50
Chair Professor, Maritime Institute of Ghent University
25 April
11:50
Professor of Ports and Shipping Economics and Policy, Department of Maritime Studies,University of Piraeus, Greece
25 April
11:50
Professor, University of Brussels and Partner, MTBS
25 April
13:45
CEO, North Sea Port
25 April
13:45
CEO, Port of Marseille Fos
25 April
13:45
CEO, Hamburg Port Authority
25 April
13:45
CEO, Port of Helsinki Ltd
25 April
13:45
Executive Vice President for Assets and Operations, CMA CGM Group
25 April
14:25
Executive Director ad Interim, Clean Hydrogen Partnership
25 April
14:25
Senior Manager Climate Technology and Policy (CEE), Bellona Europa
25 April
14:25
Senior Economist, Royal HaskoningDHV
25 April
14:25
Partner, KPMG Germany
25 April
16:15
Head of Strategy, Port of Gdansk Authority
25 April
16:15
CEO, Port of Klaipeda
25 April
16:15
Chief Officer, Office of the Chairman & CEO, Transport Malta (TM)
25 April
16:15
President of Civitavecchia Port and President, EDPorts Association
25 April
16:45
Managing Partner BE-Wallonia, Sparkle NV
26 April
08:45
Journalist & Event Moderator
26 April
09:00
UK Lead - Sustainable Finance, ING
26 April
09:20
Principal consultant & owner, Ports & Logistics Advisory
26 April
10:10
Head of Department, CINEA CEF (Connecting Europe Facility)
26 April
10:10
CEO, Port Boulogne - Calais
26 April
10:10
CEO, Port of Riga
26 April
11:10
Head of Unit FDI screening, DG TRADE
26 April
12:05
Deputy Director of DG MOVE, European Commission
26 April
12:15
MEP and Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism, European Parliament
26 April
12:15
President, Ports of Sines and the Algarve (APS)
26 April
12:15
CEO, HAROPA Port
26 April
12:15
CEO, Port of Antwerp-Bruges

ESPO CONFERENCE 2024 - 25 AND 26 APRIL 


REGISTRATION FEE

The registration fee is 530€ + 10% Value Added Tax (VAT).


GROUP REGISTRATION

This year we're introducing a discount for companies, organisations or ports sending more than two delegates to the conference. To streamline the process, we ask that one person from each port authority or company take responsibility for coordinating the group registration.

Family Pack Offer:

  • 3 Tickets: €1500
  • 4 Tickets: €2000
  • 5 Tickets: €2500

ABOUT UNION DES PORTS DE FRANCE (UPF)

Union des Ports de France is the trade association of French commercial and fishing ports, as well as fishing auctions, in mainland and overseas France. It brings together 47 active members, port authorities and managing bodies, and has 3 missions:  Represent French ports in sectoral social dialogue ; Defend the interests of French ports vis-à-vis national authorities and European authorities notably within ESPO,  as well as  medias ; Lead networks of bests practices and exchange of experiences.

Click here to watch the video of UPF.

More information on UPF's website www.port.fr



ABOUT THE VENUES

The conference room - Comet Bourse

Prepare yourself for an unforgettable conference experience! ESPO, in collaboration with the host, Union des Ports de France, has succeeded in developing an engaging programme that seamlessly integrates insightful speakers who will broaden the field of knowledge with the practical expertise of port professionals. All these exciting discussions will take place in the sophisticated meeting room of the Comet Bourse, located in the heart of the second arrondissement of Paris, in the centre of the city and on the right bank of the River Seine. The Comet Bourse offers everything you could expect from a 2024 venue, while reminding you in many ways that you are in the heart of the French capital. Moreover, when walking out, you are in the heart of the city and will be able to experience life as a Parisian!

Address:  35 rue Saint-Marc 75002 Paris - Maps  


The dinner - Musée des Arts Forains  - Pavillons de Bercy

ESPO conferences are a unique opportunity to forge valuable links between ports. They also go beyond the ordinary. And after a day of intense reflection on the challenges and issues facing ports, it's time to relax a little. This year, the Conference Gala Dinner will be held in the Musée des Arts Forains, at the Pavillons de Bercy. Les Pavillons de Bercy are a peaceful haven in Paris (12th arrondissement) as well as an historical and cultural setting dedicated to dreams and entertainment : a magic recipe for a convivial gala dinner. This historic building, designed at the end of the 19th century by one of Gustave Eiffel's pupils, recreates the atmosphere of the Salon-Carrousel of past centuries. Today it houses a replica of an old funfair, with merry-go-rounds and attractions. This will undoubtedly be an unforgettable setting for the ESPO Conference Dinner. All the more reason to come to the ESPO Conference!

Address: 53 avenue des Terroirs de France 75012 Paris - Maps 


HOW TO REACH THE VENUES

There are no shuttles foreseen between the hotels, the conference and the dinner venues. Members, delegates and participants will however be assisted by the organisers in finding their way to the venue. 

The Conference room - Comet Bourse

 The Conference room - Comet Bourse, is located 35 rue Saint-Marc, 75002 Paris. 

From Gare du Nord, this is a 20 minutes metro ride or a 15 minutes taxi ride.
From Charles de Gaulle airport, the train "RER B" (ie follow “Paris by train”) will take you from the airport to the heart of Paris. From Orly airport, the combination Oryval + RER B (change at Antony) is a good solution. You can get off at several stations: Gare du Nord if you come from Charles de Gaulles, or Chatelet if you come from Orly, where you have different metro connections.
You can also take a taxi that will bring you to the venue, count a bit less than one hour.

If you're taking the Metro, the following stations are conveniently within walking distance of the venue:

Pyramides : Line 14 (automatic line)
Bourse: Line 3
Quatre Septembre: Line 3
Richelieu Drouot: Lines 8 & 9

If you're arriving by car, you can use the parking facility:

Parking Indigo Paris Bourse
Address: 31b Rue Vivienne


The dinner - Musée des Arts Forains  - Pavillons de Bercy

From the Comet Bourse, take the metro 14 to Olympiades.
Get off at Cour Saint Emilion.



BOAT TOUR

To conclude the two days of conference, all participants are invited to enjoy a boat tour on the Seine river following the route which will be taken during the opening ceremony of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This exclusive tour on the Henri IV boat from CANAUXRAMA is kindly offered by HAROPA PORT. The tour will depart at 14:30 and end at 16:30. Boarding and disembarkation will take place at the Port of Pont-Neuf (left bank of River Seine), from where participants leaving Paris, can directly go to the airport or train stations. Transfer of luggage from the conference venue to the Port will be arranged. Below you will find the directions to the airports and train stations. 

To Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG):

From Pont Neuf Metro Station, take the metro to Châtelet. Switch to the RER B train toward Aeroport Charles de Gaulle (check with screens at quays the train stops at Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport before getting in ). 

To Orly Airport (ORY):

From Pont Neuf Metro Station, take the metro to Châtelet. Switch to the RER B train South direction (check with screens at quays the train stop at Anthony before getting in and change at Antony for Orlyval). 

To Gare du Nord (Main Train Station for Eurostar and Thalys):

Take the metro from Pont Neuf to Châtelet. Switch to the RER D train / or RER B train North direction (all RER trains stop in Paris stations).

USEFUL LINKS:

Please note that buses and taxis have dedicated lanes to circulate.


ACCOMMODATION

Below is a selection of hotels, all within walking distance of the conference venue.

Paris Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel

The Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel is an Art Deco Hotel built in 1927, known as “Hotel Ambassador”. In the Lindbergh cocktail bar, you can have a drink or a small bite. In the Sixtine Brasserie, lunch and dinner are served inside and outside on the terrace if the weather allows it. The hotel is situated at 6 minutes' walking distance from the conference venue
-Address: 16 Bd Haussmann, 75009 Paris, France
We agreed on a prefential rate of €345.00 per night per person, including breakfast. To secure your room reservation in the Paris Marriott at the special rate mentioned above, kindly click this link. Please note that just two rooms are currently available at this price.

Mercure Paris Opera Louvre

Mercure is a nice hotel with comfortable rooms, which comes at a correct price. There is no restaurant or bar at the hotel. The hotel is just a 5-minute walk from Comet Bourse.
Address: 95 Rue de Richelieu, 75002 Paris, France
- Website: Mercure Paris Opera Louvre
We agreed on a prefential rate of €230.00 per night per person, including breakfast. To secure your room reservation in the Mercure Paris Opera Louvre at the special rate mentioned above, please send this form to the following email address: h1614-re@accor.com. Please note that just five rooms are currently available at this price and that the deadline to secure them is the 16th of March.

Hotel 34B 

A young and charming hotel, completely decorated in French Blue-White-Red colours, with corresponding French details in the rooms. It has a 24-hour self-service open bar offering coffee, soft drinks, and a space to sit, relax, or work. It is just a 9-minute walk from Comet Bourse. 
Address: 34 Rue Bergère, 75009 Paris, France
- Website: Hotel 34B
We agreed on a prefential rate of €256.00 per night per person, including breakfast.  To secure your room reservation in Hotel 34B at the special rate mentioned above, please send an email to the following email address (sendgroupes@astotel.com) with the request for the ESPO agreed tariff.

L'Horset Opéra

The Hotel Horset Opera combines modern comfort and timeless charm and is located next to the iconic Opera Garnier. It has an open bar for coffee and tea in the afternoon but no evening bar or restaurant.
- Address: 18 Rue d'Antin, 75002 Paris, France
- Website: L'Horset Opéra


La Maison Favart

The rooms in this hotel have 18th-century decoration combined with modern comfort and amenities such as a Nespresso coffee machine and an MP3 player. Tea and coffee are also available at the honesty bar. There is a small fitness, pool, and sauna.  
- Address: 5 Rue de Marivaux, 75002 Paris, France
- Website: La Maison Favart

 Hôtel Square Louvois

This is another typical Parisian hotel, which combines   French classicism with modern elements. Modernism with authenticity.  There is an honesty bar where you can buy a drink. There is a small swimming pool under stone vaulting.

Address12 Rue de Louvois, 75002 Paris, France


Lyric Hotel Paris Opéra

Lyric Hotel Paris Opera is again a nice hotel situated in a quiet street though, in a busy city centre, The rooms are decorated with family kind old portraits. The hotel also has a wellness area and is very close to the conference venue.
- Address: 2 Rue de Gramont, 75002 Paris, France

Hotel Grands Boulevards

Hotel Grands Boulevards has very nicely decorated bedrooms, a restaurant, and a rooftop terrace. It combines Parisian chic and history with modern comfort and amenities. Higher price category.

- Address: 17 Blvd Poissonnière, 75002 Paris, France
You can get a 12% discount on the hotel rates by sending an email to reservation@grandsboulevardshotel.com and mentioning you are an ESPO guest

Hôtel Saint-Marc

This hotel, situated just next to the Comet Bourse (a good hotel for those who have the money and cannot get out of bed in the morning), again combines Parisian style and tradition with modern and original design. It has a wellness and spa. Higher price category.
- Address: 36 Rue Saint-Marc, 75002 Paris, France

Hôtel Bachaumont

We can definitely recommend Hotel Bachaumont as a nice and well-situated four-star hotel with a hotel bar and restaurant. Hotel Bachaumont has, however, no rooms left for 24th April, so it can only be booked for guests needing a room for 25 April. 

Address18 Rue Bachaumont, 75002 Paris, France
WebsiteHotel Bachaumont

Hôtel George

For those of you liking colours, be surprised by the cheerful decoration of the lobby of the Hotel George, another Astotel, and benefit from the all day around free mini bar for soft drinks and coffee. Good price quality.

Address: 46 Rue Notre Dame de Lorette, 75009 Paris, France
WebsiteHotel George

Hotel La Tamise 

We can recommend you the Hotel La Tamise and Hotel Brighton which are two very nice Esprit de France hotels, offering a high level of hospitality. Hotel La Tamise became already a hotel in 1878 and was in the seventies an important hotel for the fashion beau monde welcoming mannequins like Twiggy..

Address: 4 Rue d'Alger, 75001 Paris, France
Website: Hotel La Tamise

Hôtel Brighton 

Ideally located on Rue de Rivoli opposite the Jardin des Tuileries, Hotel Brighton is greeted its guests with a mosaic set under arcades lined with marble columns, The architecture is a testament to the building’s rich past. The same splendor can be admired in the bedrooms, decorated with original paintings and engravings – mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Room with a view means something here.

Address: 218 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
WebsiteHôtel Brighton 

Hôtel Hoxton

If you are a trendy person who always wants to be where things are happening, and your budget allows it, then try Hoxton Paris.

Address: 30-32 Rue du Sentier, 75002 Paris, France
Website: Hotel Hoxton

Hotel Gramont

If you like theatre or shopping, we suggest you stay in the Hôtel Gramont, a 19th-century establishment located 700 metres from the Opera Garnier and Galeries Lafayette. 

Address: 22 Rue de Gramont, 75002 Paris, France
Website: Hotel Gramont

We recommend securing your reservation promptly, as prices may increase. 


WHAT TO DO IN PARIS

As the weather warms, Paris in April comes alive with spring flowers, and Parisians are heading outdoors. They enjoy the parks and gardens or get some sun in a café. 'April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom, holiday tables under the trees' - as eloquently sung by Ella Fitzgerald - encapsulates the perfect time to take a walk in a park, embracing the charm of the city during this delightful season.

If you are planning on staying in Paris for the weekend, follow our tips below to discover what is going on, explore the city’s rich cuisine, captivating architecture, vibrant culture, and its bustling shopping districts!

You will find in the vibrant and bustling 2eme arrondissement, also know as “Arrondissement de la Bourse” a lot of places of interest, offering its multiples sides, business, chic and popular :

  • Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Site de Richelieu : Visit the Salle Ovale and the Musée
  • Palais Brongniart, ex Paris Stock Exchange
  • Place des Victoires : one of the 5 Royal Squares in Paris, offering a glimpse of Paris’ rich architectural heritage.
  • Grand Rex : the Grand Rex is not just a cinema; it's an architectural masterpiece designed in the Art Deco style. Movie are projected in the Great Hall (Grande Salle).
  • Historic passages, galeries and covered arcades : Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas, Passage du Grand Cerf, Passage Choiseul.
  • Shopping and foodies areas : Rue Montorgueil, Rue Etienne Marcel, Rue Tiquetonne, Rue Bachaumont, Rue du Nil,…

If you want to explore other areas in Paris, its culture and cuisine, follow our advice below:

Paris is an open-air museum. It would take a lifetime to discover all the secrets of Paris' museums and monuments, as every street has at least one worth visiting. Spring is the ideal time to wander the streets of Paris and admire its emblematic monuments and architecture, both historic and modern. Discover more about Paris's rich tapestry of history, culture, and enchanting landmarks here.

What should you eat and drink while in Paris? French culture is closely linked to food and wine, so the answer to this question is as important as the things to see and do when you visit Paris. Dining on escargots and fresh bread, having a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower and eating in a street café are all essential Parisian experiences. Click here for an overview of the best restaurants, cafés and specialities not to be missed.

Do you perhaps prefer shopping? In Paris you will find the main national and international brands in the city’s shopping centre and shopping areas, but you’ll also find small shops from Paris designers, craft workshops, and vintage shops. Click here to see where to go shopping.

On another note, the countdown to the Paris Olympic Games is on! From 26 July 2024, Paris will be hosting the world's biggest sporting event: the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Various events grouped together under the Cultural Olympiad banner highlight the close ties between culture and sport. Find out more here.

Useful links: 

- Tourist information office  

 - Good tips: Sortir à Paris; LeBonbon.fr; Timeout.com 


EVENTS AND EXHIBITION NOT TO BE MISSED

  • 150 years ago, on April 15, 1874, the first impressionist exhibition opened in Paris. “Hungry for independence”, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Pissarro, Sisley and Cézanne finally decided to free themselves from the rules by holding their own exhibition, outside official channels: impressionism was born. To celebrate this anniversary, Musée d’Orsay is presenting some 130 works and bringing a fresh eye to bear on this key date, regarded as the day that launched the avant-gardes. Discover the exhibition "Paris 1874 - Inventing impressionism" here.
  • He left his mark on the history of art with his original and fascinating sculptures: the Centre Pompidou is dedicating an exhibition to the artist Constantin Brancusi, from 27 March to 1 July 2024. More information here.
  • The choreographer Josépha Madoki – to whom we owe ‘Romeo and Juliette’ at the Opéra national de Paris and ‘Starmania’ at the Seine Musicale – is taking over the majestic nave of the Musée d’Orsay avec D.I.S.C.O. Presented in a shorter version, this creation establishes a connection between waacking – an Afro-American dance style originating in gay clubs in the U.S. – and the sculptures on display in the nave of the museum. Two performances are scheduled: April 26 and 27, 2024. For more information, click here.
  • The Olympic Exhibition, sport and urban cultures at SPOT24 is one of the most keenly awaited events of the year 2024. Curated by François Gautret, who was also behind the ‘Hip-Hop 360’ exhibition at the Philharmonie de Paris, it places the spotlight on the six recent and new sports on the Paris 2024 Games programme: BMX freestyle, skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing, 3x3 basketball and breaking. The exhibition shows how these sports are closely linked to urban cultures. Click here to find out more.

For other events taking place in Paris in April, check this page.

More information on tourism can be found on the website of the city of Paris.


HOW TO CONTACT US

Please refer to the list below according to the topic of your question:

Organisation and logistics: ESPO Secretariat
E-mail: chiara.mantovano@espo.be 

On the programme: Isabelle Ryckbost
Email: isabelle.ryckbost@espo.be
www.espo.be


Local support and organisation: Union des Ports de France (UPF)
E-mail: mathilde.pollet@port.fr
website: www.port.fr


Registration: ILAGO
E-mail: j.ybert@ilago.eu

Contact

Please refer to the list below according to the topic of your question:

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