Inland waterway transport financing. In order to address the challenges faced by the inland waterway transport sector and deliver on the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, European Commission put ‘Inland Waterway Transport Action Plan 2021-2027’, in line with the new multiannual financial framework and : shifting more freight transport to inland waterways, and setting the sector on an irreversible path to zero-emissions, underpinned by a paradigm shift towards further digitalisation, as well as accompanying measures to support the current and future workforce. Meeting these core objectives will require an integrated approach and a basket of measures incorporating transport, environmental, digital, energy and fiscal policies, backed up with financial incentives, as indicated in the Annex to the Action Plan below.
ACTION PLAN FOR 2021-2027
| Shifting more freight transport to inland waterways | |
| 1. Continued support for innovative infrastructure and deployment through Horizon Europe and CEF | From 2021 |
| 2. Revision of the TEN-T Regulation – Inland waterway transport requirements and role of coordinators | 2021 |
| 3. Deployment of cross-disciplinary digital information and operation systems for water- and waterway management through CEF | From 2022 |
| 4. Transport crisis contingency plan(s) | 2022 |
| 5. Review of the regulatory framework for intermodal transport, including the Combined Transport Directive | 2022 |
| 6. Issue guidelines for operators and platforms on informing users about the carbon footprint of their deliveries and on offering sustainable delivery choices | 2023 |
| 7. Review the inland waterway transport market access legislation | 2022 |
| 8. Evaluation of the Directive (EU) 2016/1629 on technical requirements for inland vessels | 2022 |
| Towards zero-emission inland waterway transport | |
| 9. Specific actions arising from the Mission on Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters and from the Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport Partnership/Green Hydrogen partnership | From 2021 |
| 10. Support through CEF for the deployment of zero-emission inland vessels | From 2021 |
| 11. Facilitate through the H2020 Platina III project the elaboration of an EU energy index methodology for assessing carbon intensity levels of inland waterways vessels | 2022 |
| 12. Evaluate the procedure for allowing derogations in the context of Directive (EU) 2016/1629 for encouraging the navigation of zero-emission vessels on EU waterways | 2023 |
| 13. Analysis to assess the need for measures for promoting low carbon/zero-emission vessels. | 2025 |
| 14. Revision of the railways State aid guidelines – possible inclusion of IWT and possible block exemption of aid for the coordination of transport | From 2021 to 2023 |
| 15. Revision of the State aid guidelines for environmental protection and energy, as well as the State aid Framework for research, development and innovation | 2021 |
| 16. Technical Guidance document on climate proofing on infrastuctuture in the period 2021-2027 | 2021 |
| 17. Study to support the greening of inland ports | 2021 |
| 18. Revision of the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive and a roll-out plan with funding opportunities and requirements | 2021 |
| 19. Request the European Standardisation Organisation for harmonised standards for alternative fuels infrastructure for inland waterways and ports | 2021 |
| 20. Continous support for innovative and alternative fuels infrastucture and deployment through Horizon Europe and CEF | From 2021 |
| 21. An assessment of the needs of waste reception infrastructure and and degassing facilities | 2024 |
| 22. Revision of the Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/1926 on multimodal travel information services with inclusion of inland waterway transport | 2022 |
| Smart inland waterway transport | |
| 23. Revision of the Directive 2005/44/EC on Harmonised River Information Services | 2022 |
| 24. Technical assistance for a permanent operational structure for a single point of access for the provision of RIS-based Corridor Information Services | 2024 |
| 25. An integrated and operationalised vision for the digital transformation of the current traffic and transport related business models and processes in the sector | 2023 |
| 26. CEF technical assistance project to strengthen public-private cooperation in inland waterway transport and facilitate implementation of the digitalisation vision | 2023 |
| 27. Facilitate the Development, demonstration and the deployment of holistic Smart Shipping Concepts for the digital integration of inland waterway transport in the synchromodal supply chain, including RIS, through Horizon Europe and CEF | From 2022 |
| Towards more attractive and sustainable jobs in inland waterway transport | |
| 28. Regular information on the labour market structure through the inland waterway transport market observatory | From 2022 |
| 29. Evaluation of social legislation in the context of the market access fitness check | 2023 |
| 30. Propose measures on digital tools for recording and exchanging information on inland crew and vessels | 2021 |
| 31. Propose measures on EU crewing requirements for inland navigation | 2024 |
| 32. Request development of standards for skills for alternative fuels’ operations and for environment-friendly and efficient vessel operation (eco navigation) | 2022 |
| Financing | |
| 33. Facilitate the efforts of stakeholders and Member States to create a fund complementing EU and national financial instruments | 2024 |
| Governance | |
| 34. Support the CESNI through the CEF technical assistance for the development of technical standards for inland waterway transport | 2022 |
| 35. Support the CCNR and the Danube Commission for ensuring, where approriate, the coordination between EU policies and the policies of the respective international organisations | From 2022 |
https://www.grimaldistudiolegale.com/finanziamenti-comunitari-infrastrutture-e-logistica