Brussels, 10/04/2000 (Agence Europe) - Ms Loyola de Palacio, Vice-President of the European Commission, met Ambassador Strasser, Chair of the Danube Committee, last Friday to discuss the project aimed at making the Danube navigable again. The European Council of Lisbon called for the necessary measures to be taken immediately, so that navigability is restored by the summer. Ms de Palacio mainly proposed placing a Commission official at Mr Strasser's disposal full time for at least four weeks, to provide technical assistance. This offer received a positive welcome.
A Commission note recalls that the Danube is an essential pan-European corridor for transport which normally carries considerable inland navigation traffic. The current blocking causes substantial economic losses to the Danube countries, makes problems of congestion in other transport sectors more acute and has major consequences on the environment.