NAIADES well on course
At the start of 2006, the European Commission set out a multi-annual action programme to foster transport by inland waterways in Europe as a contribution to Europe’s strategy for growth and employment. The Council of EU transport ministers adopted the plan in June 2006, and the European Parliament in October 2006.

One year later, the Commission presents an overview of the actions taken in a new communication to see what actually happened with the good intentions and the ambitious plans. A good start has been made. New EU harmonisation legislation is in the pipeline, a EU coordinator will help to get the waterway infrastructure projects of the trans-European priorities on course, a EU handbook on national funding is available to orient firms in their quest for tailor-made financial assistance and all barriers to the development of waterfreight have been mapped in order to define priorities for further political action.

The Commission also took a look at what Member States did in their countries to promote waterfreight in order to keep the entire transport system flowing. A number of Member States set up national action plans. Others will hopefully learn from these examples.

But more remains to be done to ensure NAIADES becomes a real success. The communication shows that preparations are well on course, but the measures that make the difference now have to be implemented.

More on Naiades
≡ EC communication on implementation of Naiades 2007 Read...
≡ EC communication on Naiades Read…
≡ Council conclusions on Naiades Read…
≡ EP resolution on Naiades Read...