In January 2006 European Union declared a program of actions to encourage those modes of transport which are characterized by low consumption of energy, environmental acceptability und safeness. All those characteristics are apply very well to inland shipping.
06/14/2011 News
The European commission has worked out five key aspects to secure economic competitiveness and sustainable mobility. Those sectors were named market, fleet, jobs & skills, image and infrastructure and shall be implemented until the year of 2013:
- Extension of inland waterway transport to new markets, creation of multimodal services, financial incentives, simplification at administration
- Modernization and innovation of the fleet
- Improving working and social conditions, professional qualifications, education and training institutions
- Establishment of promotion structures and appointment of national focal points to improve the image of inland navigation
- Improvement and maintenance of waterway infrastructures and transhipment facilities
NAIADES action programme refer to problems of European inland navigation und provide solutions for a common strengthening of shipping activities. An interim report of the realized actions was published in April 2011. In the near future the commission is willing to concentrate on the five strategic aspects. The action programme should therefore be extended und provided by his own budget. This interim report is available in English language here.
Information by European Union about NAIADES http://ec.europa.eu/transport/inland/promotion/naiades_en.htm
Project website NAIADES http://www.naiades.info/
Presentation of Elbe Promotion Center within the framework of NAIADES http://www.naiades.info/page.php?id=942&country=DE&good_practice=1696