1 5 years Inland Navigation Europe General Assembly Liège, 5 December 2005

2 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

3 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

4 INE strategy Targeted 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

5 INE objectives 2001  A set of constructive and pragmatic targets 1. Improve IWT infrastructure 2. Implementation of River Information Services (RIS) 3. Modal shift and multi-modal integration 4. Strengthen environment and safety bonus 5. Enhance information and networking to foster awareness & cooperation  Focus on development policy  Win-win situations for industry and authorities

6 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

7 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)

8 Main achievement  NAIADES  Publication EC IWT communication, January 2006  EU development programme  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

9 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

10 INE strategy in coming years Proactive approach for implementation NAIADES  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

11 water is the way to go INE  Inland Navigation Europe   phone