Annexes to COM(2007)770 - First progress Report on the implementation of the NAIADES Action Programme for the promotion of inland waterway transport - Main contents
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This page contains a limited version of this dossier in the EU Monitor.
| dossier | COM(2007)770 - First progress Report on the implementation of the NAIADES Action Programme for the promotion of inland waterway transport. |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2007)770  |
| date | December 5, 2007 |
This development builds upon a strong involvement of experts from Member States in different fora, including the river commissions. The NAIADES Action Programme foresees further legislative Commission initiatives, namely with regard to boatmaster certificates or manning requirements.
As for strategic policy development , the European Commission will strive to play further a coordinating role.
In order to strengthen expertise in the area of inland waterway transport, and to make better use of existing resources – as suggested by the European Parliament – the international river commissions could be entrusted with the execution of particular tasks or mandates[23]. Such assignments should be compatible with the river commissions’ own legal, territorial and financial scope, and should benefit from a solid legal base in Community law; this requires further analysis[24]. Nevertheless, the Commission has already intensified its contacts with the river commissions, in particular the CCNR.
Another way forward can be the creation and affiliation, on a voluntary basis, and under the auspices of the Commission, of an “IWT think tank” bringing together industry, policy and decision makers and academia, in order to address issues and advise on the future development of inland waterway transport in Europe.
5. CONCLUSION
Although the NAIADES Action Programme has only been in place for one and a half year, the political perception of inland waterway transport has been strengthened not only at EU level, but also in the Member States and shipping industry. The Commission is committed to the fulfilment of the programme and intends to maintain the momentum created by its initiative. The coming years will see action in the following areas:
Funding
Following the impact assessment/ex-ante evaluation as well as stakeholder consultations, a legal basis for an “IWT Innovation Fund” [25], including implementing rules will be elaborated. This would be complemented by a Funding Handbook and possibly dedicated State aid guidelines .
The human factor
A further cluster of actions would focus on the human factor. Specific working time arrangements and the definition of EU-wide professional qualification requirements should be best agreed in the framework of the social dialogue[26]. These results could be complemented, following impact assessments and consultations, by legislative proposals regarding the harmonisation of minimum manning requirements as well as for a uniform boatmasters’ certificate , valid on all Community waterways.
Administrative and regulatory framework
In order to address administrative and regulatory barriers, the results of the relevant study[27] will be evaluated and used wherever possible in cooperation with Member States’ administrations and stakeholders.
Infrastructure improvement
In addition to the coordinated implementation of RIS, an indicative development plan for the improvement and maintenance of inland waterways and ports will be elaborated, also taking into account the European Port Policy, in close cooperation with the Member States. This exercise will also take into consideration environmental and other requirements, building on the ongoing dialogue between the international navigation and protection commissions for the Rhine and the Danube.
Organisational support
In order to facilitate the coordinated implementation of the NAIADES Programme, the Commission will look for support from a platform of all interested stakeholders, Member States, river commissions and industry alike, possibly in the shape of an “IWT think tank”[28]. The call for proposals under RTD FP7[29] might help in this respect, for example through a Co-ordination action for inland waterway transport.
A. LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENTS
HARMONISATION OF: | STATUS 2007 |
technical requirements for vessels | ( |
intermodal loading units (ILU) | ( |
statistics of goods transport by inland waterways | ( |
State aid guidelines for support schemes and possibly de minimis rules for IWT | ( ( |
Harmonisation of: |
transport of dangerous goods | ( |
engine emissions | ( |
Reinforcement of position and normative framework of IWT | ~~~ |
Harmonisation of: |
boatmasters’ certificates | ( |
intermodal liability | 2008 |
manning requirements | 2009 |
waste disposal | 2009 |
education and training standards | 2009 |
intermodal documentation | 2010 |
infrastructure charging | 2013 |
fuel quality | ( |
NAIADES Action Programme Overview
B. POLICY INSTRUMENTS
STATUS 2007 |
TEN Coordinator Inland Waterways | ( |
Funding Handbook for IWT industry | ( |
Screening for barriers in existing and new European and national legislation | ( |
Administrative one-stop-shops and IWT focal points | ( |
Social dialogue within sector | ~~~ |
IWT Market observation | ~~~ |
European Development Plan for waterway infrastructures and transhipment facilities | 2009 |
Recruitment campaigns |
Spatial planning giving higher priority to (re-)developing industrial zones nearby waterways |
Interdisciplinary dialogue on project level |
( = adopted by EP and Council
( = proposed by the Commission
~~~ = ongoing
( = in preparation
APPENDIX 1
C. SUPPORT INSTRUMENTS
STATUS 2007 |
European IWT Reserve Fund | ( |
National support programmes |
Promote modal shift, facilitate investment | AT(,BE,DE,FR,NL,UK( |
Efficiency, environment and safety technologies | AT,BE,DE, FR, NL |
Promotion and development organisations | AT, BE, DE, FR, NL |
Infrastructure improvement & maintenance | AT, BE, BU,CZ, DE, FR, NL ,PL, RO, UK ( |
European RTD and support programmes |
Services: Marco Polo, CIP, INTERREG, etc. | ~~~ |
Fleet: RTD programmes (FP 7), etc. | ~~~ |
Jobs and skills: SOCRATES, LEONARDO DA VINCI, etc. |
Infrastructure TEN-T Priority projects 18&30 RIS (TEN-T MIP) PHARE, ISPA, CARDS, INTERREG, etc. | ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ |
[1] COM(2006) 6.
[2] A 6-0299/2006.
[3] On 8/9 June 2006.
[4] High Level Meeting of 15 February 2006, Vienna.
[5] See Appendix.
[6] Regulation (EC) 1998/2006.
[7] COM(2006) 852.
[8] COM(2007) 18.
[9] Regulation (EC) 414/2007.
[10] Regulation (EC) 415/2007.
[11] Regulation (EC) 416/2007.
[12] Decision 98/500/EC. http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/social_dialogue/sectorial13_en.htm
[13] OJ L 90, 2.4.1999, p. 1-5.
[14] Commission Decision C(2007) 2158.
[15] Cf Regulation (EC) 1083/2006.
[16] Decision 1982/2006/EC.
[17] Commission Notice 2006/C316/10.
[18] SEC(2007) xxx.
[19] Cf. EESC own-initiative opinion TEN/222 - EESC 599/2006.
[20] Directive 44/2005/EC.
[21] Directive 87/2006/EC.
[22] See 2.2.2.
[23] The Commission Staff Working Document “NAIADES” (SEC(2006) 34/3) listed the following: carry out studies; supervise/coordinate the respect of technical standards; monitor the work of notified bodies; manage databases, oversee the registration of vessels.
[24] For example, Article 8 of Regulation (EC) 549/2004 (single European sky) allows the Commission to issue mandates to Eurocontrol. The Commission’s experience of cooperating with the European Space Agency in the setting-up of the Galileo Project could also be considered.
[25] See 3.1.3.
[26] See 2.4.
[27] See 2.2.1.
[28] See 4.3.
[29] See footnote 17.