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5 years Inland Navigation EuropeGeneral 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 strategyTargeted policy action can assist change

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

2001 2006

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INE objectives 2001

A set of constructive and pragmatic targets1. Improve IWT infrastructure2. Implementation of River Information Services (RIS)3. Modal shift and multi-modal integration4. Strengthen environment and safety bonus5. 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 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 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 NAIADES

Publication EC IWT communication, January 2006

EU development programme 2006-2013 Market, fleet, jobs & skills, promotion, infrastructure

Framework for positive action

SupportEU innovation fund, dedicated IWT research, waterway infrastructure projects

higher priority

CoordinationScreening barriers, one-stop-shops, funding handbook, state aid guidelines,

promotion

LegislationVessels prescriptions, statistics, fuel quality, emissions, waste disposal,

charging

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NAIADES 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 -

technical vessel descriptions directive - statistics directive - dedicated research for IWT

Initiated plans at Member State level NAP in Austria - 12-points programme in Flanders - IWT part of

Marshall plan in Wallonia - Contrat d’objectifs in France - Convenant in Netherlands

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INE strategy in coming yearsProactive approach for implementation NAIADES

FOCUS competitiveness

Innovation & new markets by better regulation & access to capital

mobilityContribution to congestion reduction by better & smart infrastructure

environment protection & energy securityMaximising eco and safety bonus by eco-innovation

promotionStrengthening reputation of IWT by stronger EU network

2001 2006 2013

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water is the way to go

INE Inland Navigation Europe www.inlandnavigation.orgemail info@inlandnavigation.org phone +32 2 553 62 70