On Friday 18 December, the European Commission opened a four-week public consultation on its roadmap for the development of the NAIADES III programme - the European Action Plan for Inland Navigation 2021-2027 (see EUROPE 12618/13). The latter will be unveiled in the first quarter of 2021, says the institution.
The roadmap details the two main priorities of NAIADES III: the increase of inland waterway transport on the one hand, and a gradual shift to zero-emission inland waterway vessels on the other.
The Commission recently committed itself (see EUROPE 12616/12, 12619/12) to work towards an increase in European transport by inland waterway and sea of 25% by 2030 and 50% by 2050.
In its roadmap it therefore states, among other things, that a clear European methodology for the assessment of CO2 emission levels from inland navigation vessels should be developed.
It also refers to the need to provide more financial support to the sector, to establish clearer and more flexible technical requirements for the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) infrastructure or to increase interoperability between different modes with a new regulatory framework on combined transport.
Furthermore, it is considering the possible revision of the River Information Services Directive or the development of qualification standards for crew safety, as crews will have to cope with new technologies. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)