Brussels, 24/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Given its resolve to give fresh impetus to inland river navigation, the European Commission signed, on Wednesday 22 May, a cooperation agreement with the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR).
These administrative arrangements will contribute to improving the way the market for inland navigation works, and will eliminate the barriers that restrict the use of this kind of transport. There should be cooperation for adapting the technical requirements for inland navigation vessels, modernisation of professional qualifications for crew members, and the development of market monitoring for inland navigation in Europe. With this approach, the Commission will benefit from CCNR's expertise. As it had expressed the wish in a staff working document one year ago, the Commission is hoping to step up this kind of collaboration (Naiades II - see EUROPE 10626). (MD/transl.jl)