17/12/2018 (Agence Europe) – The European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) welcomed on Friday 14 December the European Parliament's vote of Wednesday 12 December on the architecture of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the period 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12158). The organisation "wholeheartedly welcomes the expanded budget for transport", says EFIP. In particular, it considers that, without an increase in the budget for the EIM, the European Union could not make transport a properly functioning and CO2-free sector in the future. EFIP also welcomes the focus on inland waters. "We would like to congratulate the three rapporteurs on their hard and diligent work in achieving this compromise, that strengthens and broadens the Commission's proposal in both budget and priorities", said Turi Fiorito, the organisation's director. (LT)