29/09/09 | Just adding water means preparing for the future
Europe’s vision of green transport and logistics servicing a sustainable economy will only materialise tomorrow if we build a solid policy strategy and equip our people with effective implementation tools today. Waterways are low carbon and congestion-free assets which link most of the cities where Europe’s businesses and consumers are concentrated. Read...
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04/05/09 | 3 priorities for inland waterway transport
INE calls upon the campaigning candidates for the elections of the European Parliament to focus on 3 priorities to make transport congestion-free, cost-effective, reliable, low-carbon and safe. Rivers and canals are a great asset to align people, planet and profit for business and society. Read...
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26/03/2009 | Inland waterway transport feels the economic crisis
For micro and small enterprises, a fair economic playing field, a lean administrative environment and tailor-made access to innovation and start capital is essential for competitiveness and growth. In the current economic downturn, such measures become even more urgent to make sure that industry is ready when the economy picks up. Read...
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30/04/2009 | Rethinking EU transportation infrastructure
Radical changes are unfolding right now. The Union therefore needs to develop a clear purpose and plan a strategy on how to design a successful long-term infrastructure carrier for system and technological innovation deployment that gives new energy to Europe’s economy in a sustainable way. Read…
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29/04/2009 | INE contribution to EC Green Paper on TEN-T
With the TEN-T Green Paper, the European Commission initiates a broad review process of the trans-European transport network policy (TEN-T). It considers future political and economic challenges such as climate change, economic growth, social cohesion as well as the strengthening of Europe's international role. Read...
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23/04/2009 | Marco Polo thresholds for waterway transport down
The European Parliament have paved the way for lowering the thresholds for waterway transport participation in the Marco Polo programme to 13 million tonne-km a year. The Parliament also followed INE’s recommendation to advocate for an inland waterway grant programme geared to the specific needs of the sector Read...
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02/02/2009 | Intelligent transport systems must go co-modal
In coordination with involved stakeholders, the EU should create a legal framework setting the standards for flexible and compatible interfaces between modal ITS systems. This will help shippers and logistics service providers to create a seamless and sustainable supply chain of goods across transport modalities. Read...
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11/11/2007 | Externality pricing and sustainable mobility
The European Commission wants the transport user to pay the entire price of the costs he inflicts on society. This economic principle sounds quite fair. A clear-cut policy objective is paramount to design a straightforward pricing mechanism that reaches the intended effects. Trying to serve multiple goals may lead to undesirable effects. Read...
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27/04/2007 | Waterways, an asset for carbon-low and congestion-free cities
The European Commission prepares a green paper on urban transport. INE explains how a number of cities successfully rediscovered their waterways to fight congestion and pollution. The EU can help to multiply such best practice and foster the set-up of positive strategies. Read...
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12/12/2006 | Ultra-low sulphur fuel key to eco-innovation
Beginning next year, the European Commission will come forward with a proposal to accelerate the introduction and use of clean fuel. The use of heavy marine fuels in inland shipping currently blocks the installation of more energy-efficient engines and equipment cutting NOx and particulates by 90%. A fast introduction of ultra-low sulphur fuel is the very first step leading to cleaner vessels. Read...
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31/03/2006 | Consultation on Logistics
A supportive policy, which sets framework conditions allowing transport businesses to operate more effectively and lowering thresholds for transport users to opt for multi-modal distribution solutions, enables to reach long-term socioeconomic goals. A strong focus on relieving the concrete bottlenecks that bar industry from investing in multi-modality is paramount. Read...
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15/03/2006 | RIS adds value to logistics
Making available traffic information such as electronic charts, standardised messages and documents to a wider range of logistics players by means of a single window creates a European data exchange platform providing relevant information on waterways, ships, their movements and cargo. Synchronising real-time data between trading partners on freight flows between warehouse and final destination plays an essential role in obtaining greater levels of efficiency. Read ..
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31/01/2006 | EC action plan to promote inland waterway transport
The inland waterway action programme proposed by the European Commission is a step in the right direction. This ambitious launches an IWT development policy. INE asks for a clear budget commitment to deliver tangible results on the fixed objectives. Read…
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23/12/2005 | Mid-term review of the EC white paper
No slogans and prestige projects but a no-nonsense and bottom-up approach of some governments positively influences the business cycle. A pragmatic policy package of pro-competitive regulation, promotion and a reduction of investment barriers creates a favourable business climate. Read…
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30/08/2005 | Consultation on inland waterway communication
A supportive policy framework, which establishes conditions allowing inland shipping businesses to operate more effectively and lowering thresholds for transport users to opt for multi-modal solutions, enables to reach long-term socioeconomic goals. Read…
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11/04/2005 | Recommendations for action plan to promote inland shipping
Setting the right framework conditions for the inland shipping sector will help it to pursue longer-term goals important to increase competitiveness and to make an excellent contribution to sustainable mobility. Read…
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22/03/2005 | Maximising the socioeconomic return of Marco Polo II
A targeted approach of SMEs will allow to attack existing congestion patterns and to attain a considerable higher modal shift under the revised programme. The strategic importance of sustainable mobility is too important to restrain the objectives to the EC’s staff capacity. Read…
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20/09/2004 | Framework directive to implement River Information Services
INE welcomes the EC proposal on RIS aiming at interoperability between current and new RIS systems in the Member States. INE calls upon the Member States and the Community to help users to fully benefit from the services, which will be made available. Read …
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22/01/2004 | TEN-T guidelines and financial regulation
The debate on TEN-T is not just a budget exercise about expenses, but an outstanding opportunity to invest in a network for sustainable movement of people and goods for the next decades. If more freight is shipped on water, motorways are relieved, emissions are reduced and mobility enhanced. Read …
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20/08/2003 | Recommendations for upcoming revision of TEN-T guidelines
INE appreciates the high level group selected two corridors for waterways instead of single projects, but is concerned about funding. Experience learns that, in absence of a strong European framework, financial commitments for mid and long term plans are often shelved. Read…
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10/02/2003 | The need of including waterway projects in TEN-T priority list
As it becomes increasingly clear that current traffic growth can no longer be managed by the expansion of road infrastructure alone, EBU, EuDA, EFIP, ESO, EIA, INE and ESC call upon the EC to include the optimization of Seine-Scheldt, Elbe, Mittellandkanal and Rhin-Main-Danube into the priority projects. Read…
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20/09/2002 | 10 European intermodal organisations on Marco Polo budget
The most important characteristic of the Marco Polo programme is its broader scope compared with the previous PACT programme. Any reduction of the budget to the level of the PACT programme would reduce the positive impact of Marco Polo on sustainable transport. Read…
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12/03/2002 | Key priorities for transport policy 2001-2010
INE proposes a package of four priorities to bolster the development potential of inland shipping: removing waterway infrastructure bottlenecks which impact the entire connection, setting framework conditions for the deployment of RIS, defining measures and support to foster modals shift and identifying administrative bottlenecks. Read…
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28/02/2002 | INE opinion on the Marco Polo I programme
INE welcomes the new “Marco Polo” program for the promotion of cargo shift to environmentally friendly modes. Under the PACT-programme, only a few inland navigation projects were realized, although they were successful. INE appreciates the widening of the support to modal shift projects in all segments of the freight market. Read…
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11/12/2001 | Proposal for amendments for the revised TEN-T guidelines
It is impossible to accommodate international freight flows by a patchwork of national projects. Member States must take up their political and financial responsibility with regard to their commitments of 1996 if inland navigation is to become a competitive alternative to road transport. Read…
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26/10/2001 | EC white paper on transport
INE calls upon the EC and the Member States to undertake concrete actions at the level of infrastructure, superstructure, ship and goods to boost the use of inland shipping in Europe. It is crucial to coordinate efforts because of the international character of inland navigation and transport in general. The ultimate goal is to attain a modal shift and sustainable growth. Read…
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