European
Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc is attending the Inland waterways and ports
dialogue in Strasbourg on November 15 to discuss a vision for inland waterways
transport towards 2030.
“European
inland waterways and ports have united people and facilitated growth for
centuries,” Bulc said. “Therefore I welcome the sector’s vision towards even
more sustainability and innovation. It is high time to boost the potential for
a digitally connected, low-carbon, and highly skilled inland navigation and
port sector", the Commissioner added, noting that a major step was achieved on
November 14, with the adoption of the Directive on professional qualifications
in inland waterways by the European Parliament.
“The
Directive is now only pending the approval of the Council of the EU,” Bulc
said.
Inland
waterway transport, that is, the use of rivers, canals and lakes for connecting
people and trade, provide a reliable and environmentally friendly transport
option. The sector is small in relative terms, but with 140 billion tonne
kilometres makes a considerable contribution to the EU’s transport system and
the aim is to realise more multimodal integration.
According
to the Commission, the EU seeks to make inland waterways a decarbonised,
digital and innovative alternative, which provides efficient mobility
throughout the EU. EU-supported projects in the sector do not only improve
navigability, but also the ecological status and resilience against climate
change. This can be achieved for example by promoting smart, clean and modular
barges, and multimodal inland ports, as well as by deploying alternative fuels,
the Commission said.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/eu-pushes-inland-waterways-low-carbon-transport/