Brussels, 06/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 5 January, the European Commission announced the entry into force, on 1 January 2009, of Directive 2006/87 on technical provisions for inland waterway vessels, thus guaranteeing the free movement of freight and passenger boats on all rivers in Europe. The directive, adopted by the Council and Parliament in December 2006, sets in place a single regime for the delivery of European safety certificates for this kind of vessel, a scheme based on common requirements and taking into account the provisions of the central commission for navigation on the Rhine (see EUROPE 8847). Earlier, the European certificate in force was not valid for shipping on the Rhine and various safety regulations prevented continuous circulation in practice on Europe's inland waterways (e.g. it was impossible to travel between France and Germany by inland waterways). After the decisions taken by the international inland waterway commissions in November and December 2008, the new certificate will also be recognised on parts of the Rhine and Danube located outside EU territory (Switzerland and Liechtenstein for the Rhine, and Ukraine, Moldova, Croatia and Serbia for the Danube). (A.By./transl.jl)