Focus on Brussels.
The Atlantic Association of Port, Nautical, Industrial and Engineering Companies of the Canary Islands (Atlantican), made public this August 2026 by the official Canary Islands gazette, BOC, and generated among business circles in the Port of Las Palmas and Tenerife, has created a panel of advisers for high-level external counsel. About this employers’ association, Atlántico Hoy said last weekend: ‘it remains to be seen whether these moves are backed by the companies (…), especially in the case of Atlantican, which will need heavyweight members to match Fedeport, which has roots and interests in both provinces.’ The founding minutes list the leadership of Hidramar and Tenerife Shipyards, alongside another company.
According to Canarymaritime.
This Monday, Canarymaritime confirmed that the new employers’ group, which will be presented in London in November at the Marine Energy Transition Forum 2026, has appointed Phil Hogan as adviser. Hogan previously served as Ireland’s Minister for the Environment and as European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, a role in which he played a key part in the reform of the CAP between 2014 and 2019, and therefore has in-depth knowledge of POSEI. In 2019, he was named the EU’s Trade Commissioner.
Hard line?
It also includes, as adviser to its board of directors, Giovanni Kessler, the former Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). In 1985, Kessler was chief prosecutor in the fight against the Mafia in Sicily. He was president of the European Anti-Corruption Network (EPAC/EACN), a formal network grouping around fifty anti-corruption authorities from the EU Member States. Kessler led the investigation into the 2011 bribery-for-influence scandal in the European Parliament, and was director of the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency.
Where the headquarters will be located.
The new business association’s registered office has been set at the headquarters of Tenerife Shipyards in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The entity has an autonomous community-wide territorial scope. According to Atlántico Hoy, ‘the new association of Tenerife-based companies is established at the East Dike of Santa Cruz de Tenerife to challenge Fedeport, with the backing of Tenerife Shipyards, Hidramar Senegal and EVS Inspecciones.’ One of the promoters told Canarymaritime via WhatsApp that ‘this employers’ group offsets its recent creation by setting as its priority ground corporate diplomacy, institutional transparency and attracting major projects to the Canary Islands in terms of marine energy transition.’
The post New Canary Islands port employers group hires former EU trade commissioner and ex-OLAF director was first published on canarymaritime.com.
