Marco Polo to be reviewed
The Marco Polo programme is a EU grant scheme which will spend EUR 400 million in the period 2007-2013 to support sustainable & innovative transport operations.

So far the programme is no success for inland shipping. With its high thresholds, the EU grant programme is primarily geared to larger companies and long distance traffic. That's no deal for the bulk of small companies in the inland navigation sector mainly active on short and medium distances. Today, national grants are more popular among inland waterway businesses as they take better account of their specific charachter.

The European Commission currently looks at how it can make the Marco Polo programme more accessible to small companies.

More information
≡ EC Marco Polo programme
≡ INE on Marco Polo