Brussels, 16/10/2006 (Agence Europe) - On 13 October, the European Commission authorised a Belgian aid scheme to encourage the development of inland waterway transport between Flemish coastal ports and the hinterland. The scheme covers the period 2006-2008 with a total budget of €6,240,776. It aims to promote the traffic shift of freight from road to a more environmentally friendly mode of transport, and will be accessible to all EU transport undertakings operating regular services in Belgium. Subsidies will be granted for the construction and reconstruction of vessels that can navigate on the part of the sea between Zeebrugge and Vlissingen/Breskens in the Netherlands. The scheme can also support the start-up of regular container services between Flemish coastal ports and the hinterland (mainly in Flanders and the Rhine Valley). (dt)