1. The view of NGOs Working Group Rivers, 2 October 2009
EC Guidance on inland waterway transport and rivers and sources of good practice
The view of NGOs
Working Group Rivers, 2 October 2009

2. Inland Waterway Transport and Rivers
Contents
Inland Waterway Transport and Rivers
Issues to be addressed in the guidance
pre-planning phase
planning phase
funding
implementation phase
cross-cutting issues
Sources of good practice

3. Inland Waterway Transport and Rivers
Inland navigation can be compatible with living rivers
Navigation engineering projects should only be implemented or continued if they:
Guarantee or regain functioning ecosystem processes (quality, quantity, timing)
Respect socio-economic needs of regional and local economies
Prove that they meet all legal requirements
Do not require new dams.

4. Pre planning stage Genuine public participation from the start
Integrated planning (Master Plan, Regional Strategy)
Understand impact of the whole programme (SEA)
Meeting legal requirements safeguarding ecosystems and ecosystem services (WFD, Natura 2000, EIA, SEA, Espoo)
Mechanism for resolving conflicts and trade offs
Make use of economic instruments and internalise external costs
Climate check

5. Planning stage
Catchment approach
Green infrastructure and reversible measures, assessment of alternatives
Hirarchy of measures
Projects adapted to local conditions, no uniform depth requirements
Complying with legislation
Understanding impacts/resolving conflicts

6. Funding
No tax payers money for unsustainable projects
Adequate contribution/cost recovery under the WFD in line with polluter pays
Funds for Master Plan and adequate public participation

7. Implementation phase
Monitoring before, during and after the intervention (identify key species/functions at stake)
Adaptive implementation (if monitoring shows negative impact)

8. Cross cutting issues
Transparency and public involvement
Data and coordinated knowledge base

9. Sources of good practice
Not many ...
TENsT and Natura 2000 study
NGO position on the Danube navigation