PLATINA pro-active on inland navigation policy
PLATINA – the platform for the implementation of NAIADES, held its first steering committee meeting in Brussels today. In a unique initiative, 22 different players in the inland navigation field will be working together to implement European waterway policy. Previous groupings have developed policy, but never before has there been such co-operation around implementation.

“The unique composition of this consortium and its multi-disciplinary nature will ensure that we will actively move forward as we support the European Commission in turning NAIADES strategy into concrete action” said Manfred Seitz, chairperson of the PLATINA management committee. “We’re proud to take up this challenge.

In 2006 the European Commission launched NAIADES (Navigation and Inland Waterway Action and Development in Europe). The communication from the Commission stated: “In the view of the European Union, economic competitiveness depends in part on transport systems. Its goal is to achieve transition to less energy-intensive, cleaner and safer transport modes. Inland waterway transport is an ideal choice in this respect”. The first progress report on NAIADES in December 2007 made it clear that, while some goals had been achieved, in order to facilitate the coordinated implementation of the NAIADES program a platform of all interested stakeholders should be established. This led to the birth of PLATINA.

The consortium is focussed on action and producing tangible tools intended to promote the use of inland waterway transport. Given the focus on implementation, it is not surprising that the first two deliverables, a consolidated guide to inland waterway transport funding opportunities throughout those European countries with navigable waterway systems, and a report on the administrative and regulatory barriers in the sector will be launched at the inaugural meeting.

The PLATINA programme is divided into five different focus groups or work packages:
• The markets work package will work on the three NAIADES measures intended to develop new markets and services for inland navigation:
   - Attract new markets
   - Encourage entrepreneurship and
   - Improve the administrative and regulatory framework.
• The second work package, known as fleet, aims to improve the logistics efficiency and the economic, environmental and safety performance of the inland waterway sector. They will seek to encourage innovations, maintain the exemplary existing safety record and work towards achieving an emission neutral inland waterway vessel.
• The third group will focus on jobs and skills both by raising awareness and improving career opportunities in the sector and by working closely with education and training institutes.
• The fourth group will work on promoting inland waterways as a successful partner in business, including working with some of the new member states who have important waterways on the development of promotion and development agencies. The group is working towards the setup and expansion of a European inland and water transport promotion and development network.
• The final group will work on infrastructure, aiming to support the improvement of the multimodal waterway network’s infrastructure in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The PLATINA programme will run until 2012, providing a common framework for targeted inland navigation actions.