Inland Navigation Europe Issues to be addressed EC river expert group meeting Brussels, 2 October 2009

Inland Navigation Europe What is INE European membership platform of national & regional promotion bodies and waterway managers Set up in 2001 with support of European Commission Brussels office: monitors & advocates measures to make moving goods safely and sustainably on navigable rivers, canals and lakes more attractive Members develop & share best practices and concepts, inform and support entrepreneurs to use transport by waterway Goal of INE to enhance competitive and sustainable mobility by promoting the existing asset of congestion-free transport by waterway in waterborne cities and regions No professional organisation Government-related bodies Gathering market and public actors:acts as neutral interface Public task: enhancing sustainable mobility

Background Clean transport and healthy environment in balance Negative externalities from transport on the increase Negative externalities from IWT relatively low and decreasing EU transport policy: promotion and development of IWT Transport project compliance with EU environmental law in art.8 of TEN-t guidelines INE advocates Win-win situations where possible Two ways integration: increase of sustainable transport and increase of sustainable environment Integration from the start at project design stage No professional organisation Government-related bodies Gathering market and public actors:acts as neutral interface Public task: enhancing sustainable mobility

Why EC guidance document 3 problems Lack of IWT specific guidance related to HBD Legal uncertainty Vertically organised authorities and planners Objectives IWT infrastructure development to proceed in a way compatible with nature conservation Reduce uncertainty No professional organisation Government-related bodies Gathering market and public actors:acts as neutral interface Public task: enhancing sustainable mobility

What Desirable outcome General indication on how integrated planning can be undertaken Neutral and specific guidance to promote appropriate assessment under HBD (focus) for IWT infrastructure projects To fit in with WFD assessment for navigation in river basins Concise and user-friendly guide and check list for Reference document for step-by-step planning: 1st target group - Waterway managers planning and executing the works (Member States) All those players involved in the planning, approval and development of IWT infrastructure projects (sector organisations, NGOs, related authorities, broader public) European Parliament No professional organisation Government-related bodies Gathering market and public actors:acts as neutral interface Public task: enhancing sustainable mobility

Issues to be addressed Guidance Advantages of IWT contributing to EU policy goals Reference to transport policy and rules of EU, River Commissions, International Agreements related to IWT and IWT infrastructure, Navigable and potentially navigable rivers and lakes in context of HBD and WFD Environmental conservation and IWT infrastructure development works Not rewrite what exists, focus from general to IWT infrastructure development Clarification: bound by and faithful to the text of the relevant Directives and the wider principles underpinning Community policy on nature conservation and IWT infrastructure development, ie no new rules but guidance on the application of those that exist Case-by-case approach Not only avoidance measures for deterioration and disturbance Look at positive and proactive measures for win-win at project design stage If negative assessment: alternatives, overriding public interest and compensation Whom to contact when further questions No professional organisation Government-related bodies Gathering market and public actors:acts as neutral interface Public task: enhancing sustainable mobility

Extra Sources of good practice Dissemination Group Guidance: NEEI Navigation: East of Vienna, Seine-Scheldt, PIANC (Working with Nature and technical papers), PLATINA Dissemination Works only when everyone knows the guidance exists Group List and exchange initiatives, activities and good practice to learn from Promote and practice two ways integration Help to reduce mental walls between vertically organised authorities, planners and organisations at international, national, regional, local level Mid-term: contribute to multi-disciplinary approach widen to all waterway stakeholders (aware of many cross-cutting elements) No professional organisation Government-related bodies Gathering market and public actors:acts as neutral interface Public task: enhancing sustainable mobility

water is the way to go INE  Inland Navigation Europe  www.inlandnavigation.org email info@inlandnavigation.org  phone +32 2 553 62 70