Arteries of life
Rivers have been arteries of development for thousands of years. Human activities are unthinkable without water. But they also exercise pressure on the water environment. Waterway managers are responsible for an efficient command of rivers and canals, balancing social, economic, cultural and environmental interests.

Integrated waterway management
Questions of transport, environment, energy, drinking water, recreation, land use planning and flood protection are often interlinked. But fragmented decision-making generates uncertainty and competing use, while win-win options are often overlooked. Sectoral approaches still largely prevail in policy making today, whereas integrated waterway management aims at attaining sustainable development in a joint dialogue with all stakeholders, using sound ecologic engineering.

Working together
INE pleads for more inter-disciplinary dialogue to multiply such win-win situations benefiting the rich multi-purpose asset waterway represent for our quality of life and economy. The river navigation and river protection commissions have started to work together at building a consensus. The coordination and streamlining of EU policies must avoid one set of Community rules encouraging the development of sustainable water freight logistics, while another functions as a barrier to that goal.

Interesting links
≡ Recommendation for better policy integration
≡ Rhine best practice on navigation and environment
≡ Danube joint statement on navigation and environment
≡ Life Nature Danube
≡ Restoring the Lys in Flanders
≡ 2 rivers: Rhine & Meuse