On Tuesday 22 November in an own-initiative report adopted by 552 votes in favour, 82 against, with 64 abstentions, during its plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament called on member states and European Commission to take short distance inland navigation transport more into account, particularly with regard to developing tourism.
The report is divided into four parts: competitiveness; environmental viability; safety and security; quality and accessibility of services.
On the question of the first point, which is the most dense part of the report, Parliament asks for the infrastructure involved in coastal shipping to be developed, particularly within the framework of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). In this regard, Parliament insists that the Commission finances integrated transport service projects for enhanced intermodal transport management. It also calls on Eurostat, the EU’s Statistical Office, to include European statistical data on the inland navigation transport sector.
On the question of environmental viability, Parliament calls on the Commission to include inland navigation passenger transport in its strategy and take measures to reduce CO2 emissions, as well as encourage energy self-sufficiency policies.
On the question of safety and security, Parliament calls on the authorities in charge to propose a clear framework for dividing up the tasks and costs and to enhance complimentary staff training as part of training programmes based on certified simulators and rules of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and, in the context of service quality and access, it is encouraging the Commission to include the principles listed in the regulation on passenger rights travelling by sea or inland waterways (regulation 1177/2010) in its proposal on passenger rights in intermodal transfers, as a means to encourage tourism as well.
Project for setting up European Inland Navigation agency rejected.
In reply to EUROPE, rapporteur Keith Taylor (Greens/EFA, United Kingdom) welcomed the adoption of his report. The only shadow cast over it involved his proposal to set up a European Inland Navigation Agency, which he informed us has not been accepted. The objective of this agency was to replace the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine, which he judges as being too “archaic and opaque”. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)