5 years Inland Navigation Europe

General Assembly Liège, 5 December 2005

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Europe at the start of 21st century

  Faces some important socioeconomic challenges     Maintain competitiveness Energy security Impact of pollution on health and climate Rising congestion leading to rising costs A group of waterfreight promotion offices and waterway managers goes European    Support entrepreneurs to benefit from waterways in a cost-effective, reliable and congestion-free way Develop and share best practices on moving freight by water to enhance competitive and sustainable mobility Neutral interfaces between business & policy

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Inland Navigation Europe

 Background    Socioeconomic challenges 75% waterway transport cross-border 75% of national legislation comes from EU  Establishment    Founded in 2001 With support of European Commission Initiative of Austrian, Belgian, Dutch and French waterway managers and promotion offices  Mission statement  Advocate measures making freight by water easy-to-use

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INE strategy Targeted policy action can assist change

2001 2006

 1st period    Set IWT on the EU agenda Integrate IWT in policy initiatives Advocate European policy plan for IWT development

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INE objectives 2001

 A set of constructive and pragmatic targets 1.

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Improve IWT infrastructure Implementation of River Information Services (RIS) Modal shift and multi-modal integration Strengthen environment and safety bonus Enhance information and networking to foster awareness & cooperation  Focus on development policy  Win-win situations for industry and authorities

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Infrastructure & RIS

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results

 Increase status waterway infrastructure in TEN-T   2 IWT priority projects in TEN-T guidelines: 18,30 Increased priority for IWT projects in TEN financial regulation  RIS on political agenda & support for implementation     Reference to RIS in TEN-T guidelines RIS framework directive IRIS implementation plan RIS in multi-annual programme

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Multi-modal integration

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results

 Increase status IWT in Marco Polo  MPI: lower thresholds via EP and MS  MPII: clustering possible  Spread IWT schemes to support innovation & new logistics concepts  Copying of aid schemes across MS  State aid guidelines IWT on course  EU IWT comprehensive policy  Focus on useful state and European aid mechanisms (handbook)   Towards supportive administrative framework (screening exercise, focal points) Towards better access to capital (de minimis)

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Main achievement

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NAIADES

 Publication EC IWT communication, January 2006  EU development programme 2006-2013     Market, fleet, jobs & skills, promotion, infrastructure Framework for positive action Support EU innovation fund, dedicated IWT research, waterway infrastructure projects higher priority Coordination Screening barriers, one-stop-shops, funding handbook, state aid guidelines, promotion Legislation Vessels prescriptions, statistics, fuel quality, emissions, waste disposal, charging

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NAIADES

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1 year on

    IWT priority of Austrian EU presidency Jan-Jun 2006 Adopted by Council of ministers in June and by European Parliament in October 2006 Initiated measures at EU level  Launch of studies for funding handbook & screening of barriers

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technical vessel descriptions directive

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statistics directive

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dedicated research for IWT Initiated plans at Member State level  NAP in Austria

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12-points programme in Flanders

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Marshall plan in Wallonia

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Convenant in Netherlands IWT part of Contrat d’objectifs in France

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INE strategy in coming years Proactive approach for implementation NAIADES

2001 2006 2013

 FOCUS     competitiveness Innovation & new markets by better regulation & access to capital mobility Contribution to congestion reduction by better & smart infrastructure environment protection & energy security Maximising eco and safety bonus by eco-innovation promotion Strengthening reputation of IWT by stronger EU network

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water is the way to go

INE  Inland Navigation Europe  email [email protected] www.inlandnavigation.org

 phone +32 2 553 62 70

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