NAIADES: EU waterway promotion
The European Commission issued at the start of 2006 the first comprehensive development programme for inland waterway transport to promote a better use of rivers and canals for freight transport across Europe. Baptised Naiades after the river nymphs of ancient Greece, the programme aims at setting positive incentives and scrapping barriers for the development of inland waterway transport. By linking navigable waterways to the road, rail and short-sea networks, the EU wants to contribute to relieving traffic congestion, mastering energy use and sustainable distribution solutions.

INE will follow the implementation of the EU promotion programme running from 2006 to 2013 on these pages.

WHITE PAPER: EU transport policy
Mid 2006, the European Commission reviewed its overall transport policy objectives dating back from 2001. In response to the major challenges of the moment such as traffic congestion, energy security and global warming, the Commission focuses its new policy on efficiency, innovation, logistics and greening transport. With these aims, the transport policy goes at the heart of the Lisbon Agenda. As for inland waterway transport, the NAIADES programme becomes full part of the EU transport policy.