Container terminals in North Africa, Turkey and the Middle East already preparing to receive business dropped by their EU rivals in the wake of new environmental regulation, a European politician warned.

“As we speak, Port Said, Izmir are changing their business model to replace European ports,” Maltese transport minister Aaron Farrugia told the European Shipping Summit on Wednesday.

According to the Maltese government official, this is a side-effect of the EU’s emissions trading scheme (EU ETS), which will start taking effect in a few months imposing carbon costs on shipping companies and charterers heading towards its terminals.