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European Barge Union

EBU

The European Barge Union promotes inland waterway transport as a sustainable and efficient mode of freight and passenger transport across Europe.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Simone Ritzek-Seidl (Cabinet of Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas)

20 Jan 2026 · Exchange on inland waterways and ports

Meeting with Torsten Klimke (Head of Unit Mobility and Transport) and Inland Navigation Europe and

19 Sept 2025 · Regular courtesy visit of the Inland Waterway (IWT) sector to the Head of Unit in charge of IWT

European Barge Union urges EU-wide strategy for sustainable river tourism

10 Sept 2025
Topic — This consultation gathers feedback on a new strategy for sustainable European tourism.
Message — The group calls for an EU-wide strategy for sustainable inland waterway tourism. They demand dedicated funding for fleet modernization and zero-emission propulsion technologies. They also want harmonized sustainability reporting.12
Why — Dedicated funding and regulatory clarity would help barge operators modernize their fleets.3
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Response to Sustainable transport investment plan

18 Aug 2025

The European Barge Union EBU is pleased to submit in attachment the Inland Inland waterway transport (IWT) sector's feedback. IWT is a highly competitive and sustainable sector that plays a vital role in the various pillars of the Clean Industrial Deal. Recognized as a highly competitive, energy-efficient, safe, and sustainable alternative to other transport modes, inland waterway transport helps alleviate congestion on overloaded road and rail networks for both goods and passengers. Europes new industrial future and circular economy depend heavily on IWT as carrier of the building blocks of the EU economy, including renewable fuels. Increasing cargo volumes on inland waterways can make a significant contribution to achieving the European Green Deal policy objectives. is pleased to support the Inland Waterway Transport sector's input to this call of evidence.
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European Barge Union Urges CO2 Transport via Inland Waterways

13 Aug 2025
Topic — This consultation concerns a legislative initiative for EU carbon transportation infrastructure and markets.
Message — The EBU argues that inland waterways are ready for CO2 transport. They request the sector take a leading role in these new markets.12
Why — This would allow barge operators to secure new business by absorbing CO2 flows.3
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Response to EU Ports Strategy

28 Jul 2025

The European Barge Union, representing barge owners and operators in Europe, welcomes the possibility to contribute to the call for evidence on the European Port Strategy. The Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) and Ports sector plays a crucial role in achieving Europe's climate neutrality, economic resilience and strategic autonomy. The attached statement presents our sectors vision and concrete proposals for the upcoming Industrial Waterborne and Port Strategies focusing on the green transition, resilient and dual-use inland waterway and port infrastructure through preparedness by design with people at its core and digitalisation as horizontal enabler. Inland waterway transport and Ports are a competitive and crucial component to the Clean Industrial Deal. As a safe, energy-efficient alternative, IWT relieves road and rail congestion and supports the circular economy by handling key goods, including renewable fuels. Notwithstanding its relatively small modal share, Inland ports, strategically located along navigable waterways, act as major transshipment hubs and gateways, extending the reach of maritime trade into the heart of Europe's industrial, agricultural and consumer areas. To unlock the full potential, the sector requests adoption of the following 4 thematic priority actions in the upcoming EU Strategies: 1. Boosting research and innovation for Green transition of IWT and ports, by regulation, research, innovation and funding to enable the large-scale use of renewable energy and deployment of clean technologies in vessels. Solve bottlenecks in the legal framework, promote further RD&I and establish a dedicated IWT investment Fund with a focus on support to vessel owners/operators to green their vessels. Synchronise roll-out of the renewable energy network along waterways and in ports for availability of affordable renewable energy for IWT, especially HVO and battery-electricity for the short term. 2. Improving competitiveness through boosting the digital transition of IWT and ports: establish a robust digitalisation and automation framework to enable seamless, efficient interoperability across borders and transport systems. Promote multimodal shift policies to divert cargo from congested road networks to more sustainable transport modes/IWT. 3. Resilient and dual-use inland waterway and port infrastructure: ensuring predictable and substantial investment in infrastructure, supported by CEF3 and national funding programs, to build reliable, climate-resilient waterborne supply chains, covering both small- and large-scale projects, as well as extend dual-use capabilities for both port infrastructure and inland vessels. 4. Modernising frameworks for improved jobs and skills in IWT: Modernise legislation on crewing requirements and professional qualifications to reflect the evolving needs of the sector and attract new talent. This will enhance the sectors competitiveness and sustainability while helping to address the shortage of qualified crew through greater use of automation. The interplay between innovation, regulation and funding is essential to ensure continued progress and encourage investment.
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Response to EU industrial maritime strategy

28 Jul 2025

The European Barge Union EBU, representing the barge owners and operators in Europe, welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the upcoming EU industrial maritime/waterborne strategy. It calls for a strong positioning of the inland waterway transport sector in this strategy. The waterborne sectorspanning maritime and inland navigationis a cornerstone of Europes economy and sustainability goals. It brings together a diverse ecosystem of shipowners, ports, infrastructure and service providers, shipbuilders, classification societies, equipment manufacturers, research institutions, and more. Europes rivers, canals, seas, and ports are more than transit routesthey are lifelines for the continent's industrial and ecological health. Nearly 50% of Europeans live near coastlines or major rivers, and major centres of production and consumption are concentrated along waterways. Inland waterway transport (IWT) enables the safe, efficient, and low-emission movement of key goodssteel, chemicals, agri-products, alternative fuels, oversized cargo, and morerelieving pressure on congested land networks. while offering increased opportunities for sustainable tourism and recreation. Disruptions to this network can ripple across downstream supply chains, impacting industry, water and food security alike. Inland ports, acting as multimodal hubs and industrial clusters, are expanding their role in the renewable energy eco-system and the circular economy. The EU Industrial Waterborne Strategy aims to accelerate the green and digital transition of the entire waterborne value chain and to set a roadmap for innovation, investment, and resilience. The IWT and ports sector highlights its vision around a number of key areas, and calls for the following policy actions: 1. Fostering innovation from early research to market deployment across the full value chain; 2. Creating a pro-innovation regulatory framework that ensures legal certainty and unlocks private and public investment; 3. Establishing a stable, accessible funding system tailored especially to the needs of SMEs. As people are at the core, EBU calls to adressing labour and skills shortages, promoting workforce upskilling, and supporting quality employment which is pivotal to delivering on the sectors vision. Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) plays a crucial role in achieving Europe's climate neutrality, economic resilience and strategic autonomy and is a competitive and crucial component of the Clean Industrial Deal and the Waterborne ecosystem. Please find attached the sector's full position paper.
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Meeting with Polona Gregorin (Head of Unit Climate Action) and European Federation of Inland Ports

2 Jul 2025 · General discussion on the challenges inland waterway transport faces on its path to decarbonization.

Meeting with Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Commissioner) and

1 Jul 2025 · Strategic Dialogue on the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy

Meeting with Apostolos Tzitzikostas (Commissioner) and

1 Jul 2025 · Strategic Dialogue on the EU Port Strategy

Meeting with Stéphane Séjourné (Executive Vice-President) and

1 Jul 2025 · EU Strategic Dialogue on the EU Industrial Maritime Strategy.

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament) and Koninklijke Binnenvaart Nederland

20 Mar 2025 · Inland navigation

Meeting with Anne Bergenfelt (Cabinet of Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas)

3 Mar 2025 · Courtesy visit of the Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) sector to Cab member in charge of IWT

Barge Industry Demands Seat in Water Allocation Decisions

25 Feb 2025
Topic — This initiative seeks to ensure water security while enhancing the EU's competitive edge.
Message — The sector calls for representation in water allocation and drought management planning to mitigate the impact of low water levels. They emphasize their role as a sustainable transport mode essential for a circular economy.12
Why — Formal representation would help the industry plan better and minimize cargo disruptions during dry periods.3
Impact — Groups that remove water from rivers may face limits to maintain sufficient navigation levels.4
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Meeting with Jan-Christoph Oetjen (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Feb 2025 · General exchange on current shipping topics

European Barge Union urges workforce reforms and administrative relief

30 Jan 2025
Topic — Single market initiative to improve cross-border services and remove regulatory trade barriers.
Message — The sector requests faster qualification recognition for new workers and an exclusion from European posting rules. They also seek tax incentives for alternative fuels and better access to sustainability funding.123
Why — Reducing red tape and fixing labor shortages would improve the sector's performance.45
Impact — Road transport operators may lose business as freight is moved to waterways.6
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Meeting with Jens Gieseke (Member of the European Parliament) and Ryanair Holdings and

28 Jan 2025 · Austausch zu EU Politik

Meeting with Fotini Ioannidou (Director Mobility and Transport) and

16 Jan 2025 · Courtesy visit of the Inland Waterway (IWT) sector to the new MOVE director and Head of Unit in charge of IWT

Response to Interim evaluation of the Connecting Europe Facility 2021-2027

24 Sept 2024

IWT SECTOR FEEDBACK ON THE EUROPEAN COMMISSIONS CALL FOR EVIDENCE FOR AN EVALUATION OF CEF2. The Inland Waterway transport IWT sector is of strategic importance in responding to Europes geostrategic, environmental and capacity challenges. In an era of increasing congestion on road and rail networks, inland waterway transport offers a sustainable solution to expanding logistics capacity. Industry and agricultural undertakings need good waterborne connections and transhipment points in view of growing congestion, just as the military needs reliable backup solutions in case others fail. Moreover, European rivers attract many tourists to visit the historical cities along their banks while sailing through impressive landscapes. Addressing Challenges and Climate Resilience Inland shipping advantages were clearly demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when inland waterways ensured the smooth transportation of essential goods, including pharmaceutical raw materials. Today, the Danube river has become the pillar in the EUs solidarity lanes, facilitating the bulk of Ukraines exports. In recent years, insufficient waterway investment and the growing impact of climate change on water levels have threatened the cost-effectiveness and reliability of inland waterway services. Concerns are emerging about the sector's ability to grow amidst these challenges and to absorb higher volumes of freight and passengers on the waterways as foreseen in the EU Green Deal. Inland waterway transport can continue to thrive even in a changing climate, but investment in climate proof waterways with a widening toolbox of permanent and flexible measures, making the most of and innovation cannot wait. Therefore, - A resilient waterway system offers a win-win for public and private parties - Investing in resilient waterways is a quick win to keep Europe moving CEF a proven instrument to support these challenges CEF has proven to be an effective and efficient instrument to cope with above challenges. In terms of coherence with other EU policies it should focus on a stronger support of sustainable modes of transport such as IWT to increase its modal share in line with the EU Green Deal objectives. Massive oversubscriptions of the current CEF transport budget endangers EU modal shift goals and reliability of the IWT sector While the granted projects under the calls of the current CEF are on track and support the sectors call for reliability, numerous inland waterway projects have been rejected due to budget constraints. These are mostly smaller projects which however are pivotal to the well functioning of the entire waterway connection without interruptions. Conclusion 1. 1. The ambitious targets set in the new TEN-T regulation will require sufficient funding out of CEF2 and in particular from CEF 3. The massive oversubscriptions of the current CEF transport budget underline once again that the ambitions and challenges of the transport sector are high, yet are not met with the necessary EU support. 2. While European waterways offer sufficient capacities to absorb much higher volumes, neglected waterway maintenance in the past years or even decades, together with the increasing impact of climate change on water levels endanger the reliability of inland waterway services. This calls for immediate action to address the current shortcomings and to prepare the infrastructure for the future. With small investments huge results can be realised by an effective rehabilitation of the waterways, leading to an efficient and resilient waterway network in the future. 3. Under CEF 3 priority should be given not only to cross-border projects, but also to national projects with cross-border dimensions to guarantee the well functioning of a corridor
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Meeting with Sophia Kircher (Member of the European Parliament)

24 Sept 2024 · River Information Services

Meeting with Kris Van Dijck (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Inland Navigation Europe

24 Sept 2024 · River Information Services

Meeting with Tom Berendsen (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Inland Navigation Europe

10 Sept 2024 · River information systems

Response to Block exemption regulation on the application of Articles 93 and 108 of the Treaty to State aid for the land transport sector

28 Mar 2024

Inland Waterway Transport IWT plays an important role in the European Green Deal and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and is considered as sustainable mode that should take over much higher volumes of freight to be shifted from road. IWT is an enabler to absorb much higher volumes and to deliver the ambitions of the EU Green Deal. In line with the forementioned strategy, the European Commission recently released its NAIADES III Action Program, putting forward an ambitious Inland Waterway Transport Action Plan 2021-2027. NAIADES III focuses on two core objectives: shifting more freight transport to inland waterways, and setting the sector on an irreversible path to zero-emissions accompanied by a paradigm shift towards further digitalisation, as well as accompanying measures to support the current and future workforce. In its Action Plan NAIADES III under point 33. Emphasizes to facilitate the efforts of stakeholders and Member States to create a fund complementing EU and national financial instruments. The IWT sector is prepared to contribute to the above objectives and to take the necessary steps in the transition towards zero emission as well as to take over much higher volumes of freight and passengers on the waterways if the right framework conditions are met. To support the energy transition of the sector state aid programs are necessary to cope with the huge investment needs and to support the implementation of the NAIADES III Action Plan. To cope with the challenges towards zero emission and in financing the energy transition it is thus depending on EU and Member State funding. For this purpose TBER and state aid guidelines play a crucial role. New TBER should cut administrative burdens and substantially increase the thresholds, taking account of the high investment costs of new and transitional technology. The broad deployment of new technology requires substantial funding for which TBER and state aid guidelines are pivotal to support the energy transition in the sector. Attached are inputs to previous consultations of the IWT sector.
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Meeting with Filip Alexandru Negreanu Arboreanu (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean), Roxana Lesovici (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean)

7 Nov 2023 · Solidarity lanes and infrastructure improvement, both fairway and ports Modal Shift and CTD Dredging in taxonomy IWW Speakers CED plenaries EP Port report

Response to Smart and flexible EU crewing rules in Inland Waterway Transport

10 Jul 2023

Please find attached EBU's feedback on the call for evidence. We are pleased to further support EC in this attempt.
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European Barge Union Opposes Fossil Fuel Transport Restrictions

3 May 2023
Topic — This initiative classifies sustainable economic activities to guide investment toward EU environmental objectives.
Message — The union requests removing the ban on financing for vessels transporting fossil fuels. They also argue for including dredging and updated fuel efficiency criteria in the green taxonomy.123
Why — The industry avoids being penalized for their cargo and maintains access to sustainable investment.4
Impact — European society and industrial supply chains face risks if fuel transport is restricted.5
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European Barge Union calls for expiry of shipping competition exemptions

3 Oct 2022
Topic — Evaluation of rules allowing liner shipping companies to cooperate without violating competition laws.
Message — The EBU urges the Commission to let the current shipping exemption expire in 2024. They want new guidelines to ensure the competition framework for vessel sharing is transparent and enforceable.12
Why — Ending the exemption would restore a level playing field for inland waterway operators.3
Impact — Deep-sea carriers would lose the special legal status that allows them to share vessel capacity.4
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Meeting with Pablo Fabregas Martinez (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean)

20 Sept 2022 · transport

Response to Union guidelines for the development of the TEN-T network amended proposal

14 Jul 2022

Please find attached the feedback of the Inland Waterway Transport Sector represented by EBU, ESO and IWT Platform.
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Meeting with Dominique Riquet (Member of the European Parliament) and European Federation of Inland Ports

21 Jun 2022 · Infrastructures de transport

Response to Harmonised river information services – revision of EU rules

13 Sept 2021

The European Barge Union (EBU) is pleased to provide input to the consultation on the IIA. In 2021, an evaluation of the Directive found that a full harmonisation and interoperability of RIS has not been achieved yet, which is shared by our previous findings as submitted to the consultation on that evaluation. RIS provides important information and support to the Inland Waterway Transport (IWT). Therefore it is important to realise its full implementation, develop it to the next levels, ensure interoperability with other modes and solutions and develop an integral digitalization strategy for inland waterways. For a more in depth input please consult our attached position paper.
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Response to Revision of Combined Transport Directive

7 Sept 2021

Please see attached position of the Inland Waterway Transport sector on the Roadmap.
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Meeting with Daniel Mes (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

21 Jun 2021 · Keynote speech on inland waterway transport to deliver the European Green Deal

Response to Transitional provision for the recognition of third countries professional qualifications in inland navigation

19 Apr 2021

The objective of the amendment is to prolong the status quo for a limited period. This means continuing to recognise valid documents of non-EU countries in the Member States that currently recognise them. EBU welcomes the Commission's proposal to create a legal basis to apply the same transitional rules on certificates of competency issued by non-EU-countries and currently recognised by EU Member States as those applicable to certificates issued by EU Member States. This is essential with regard to unhindered navigation, in particular on the Danube, and necessary to provide legal certainty to the holders of the certificates as well as to the companies employing them. The Commission's intention to adapt the Directive is reasonable and appropriate and meets the objective described in the Roadmap of allowing Member States to continue to recognise previously recognised documents from third countries for the transitional period. The continuation of recognition is absolutely necessary to ensure unhindered navigation on the Danube in the interest of all. Not only the third countries concerned and the holders of these documents will benefit from the adaptation of the transitional provisions, but also the EU Member States and their companies, which employ numerous crew members from Serbia and Ukraine, for example. The inland navigation sector in the EU is known to suffer from a shortage of qualified people, which is expected to increase in the coming years. Without a change in the transitional provisions, the available personnel would be further reduced. Therefore, this initiative ultimately also contributes to securing the available personnel in the European inland navigation sector.
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Meeting with Rachel Smit (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean)

22 Mar 2021 · Introductory meeting between Cabinet and EBU to present EBU and give more detail on the upcoming EBU event.

Response to Navigation And Inland Waterway Action and Development in Europe (NAIADES) III Action Plan 2021-2027

14 Jan 2021

The Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) sector welcomes the Roadmap towards a follow up NAIADES ACTION PLAN published on 18 December 2020 as a follow up of the current NAIADES II Action program that terminated by the end of 2020. EBU supports the proposed focus as well as the notion that the IWT sector needs to be reinforced, to meet the Green Deal objectives in terms of modal shift and lower pollutants and Greenhouse Gas emissions. In particular the increase of the modal share of IWT will substantially contribute to an overall decrease of GHG emissions of transport. (1) Volumes of freight – increase of modal share The proposed 5 clusters of actions (A1, A2, A3, B and C) in our view will be the right framework to address the referred root causes for the untapped potential of the IWT sector. All of them individually need to be addressed in a strong way and supported by concrete and concerted actions in order to realise the increased modal share as announced in the Smart and Sustainable Mobility Strategy. To increase the modal share there is not only a need of incentives but rather of concrete and regulatory measures by authorities to shift to IWT where ever possible. (2) Limited progress towards innovation and alternative fuels including zero emission vessels Given the long life time span of vessels and the high investment costs as well as the small IWT market the progress towards innovation indeed is limited. Notwithstanding these obstacles the IWT sector is investigating into new alternatives to cut emissions. By doing so it aims for a coordinated transport and energy policy to pool resources among energy and transport actors. Already underway to reach a substantial emission reduction by quick-win solutions the IWT sector is depending on the availability and the market readiness of alternative fuels on a broad scale. Regarding the technical and financial solutions in combination with the various alternative fuels we would like to point to the studies on financing the energy transition towards a zero-emission European IWT sector commissioned by CCNR and its member states. Where these studies address the challenges of the innovation in the broadest sense they should be taken into account and feed into the NAIADES III action program. How The above challenges shall be addressed by incentives in the new action plan. The roadmap states that these incentives are mainly financial and could concern the internalisation of external costs by implementing the “polluter pays” and “user pays” principles. Although this is part of the overall EU policy such instruments might lead to reverse effects in IWT. First of all the externalities of IWT are very low. Secondly the recent studies on financing the energy transition towards a zero-emission European IWT sector come to the conclusion that the polluter pay schemes are not feasible in IWT due to structure of the sector and chain of involved parties. Besides the user pays principle clearly might lead to a reverse modal shift which is contrary to the overall goal of the Green Deal. To realise the energy transition the IWT sector needs incentives, in particular dedicated funding for fleet innovation and tax exemptions for alternative fuels.
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Response to Climate change mitigation and adaptation taxonomy

15 Dec 2020

The objectives of the initiative, in line with the Taxonomy Regulation, are to establish technical screening criteria for economic activities that make a substantial contribution to the EU’s environmental objectives on climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation while avoiding significant harm to the other environmental objectives. In line with the Green Deal Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) is considered to play a major role in greening transport by modal shift. The IWT sector needs investments to realise the energy transition. However, the criteria as laid down in the Delegated Act are neither adequate nor in line with the transition pathway towards zero. IN addition, the sector is relying on a properly maintained infrastructure which equally is depending on investments and thus needs to be covered under the technical screening criteria. Modal Shift IWT is a major enabler to shift freight from road which is considered as sustainable contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation of the Taxonomy regulation (EU) 2020/852. The current criteria in the delegated acts, both for transport and infrastructure, do not take this modal shift potential sufficiently into account and lead to a potential exclusion of IWT classifying as sustainable. IWT has a very positive CO2 record compared to road in t/km already today and is known as an energy efficient mode of transport. Inland Passenger and Freight water transport: 1. The exclusion of vessels purchased or operated to transport fossil fuels even when fulfilling the sustainability criteria is in conflict with the modal shift goal of the Green Deal. Fossil fuels will not be banned from the European society and industry in the coming decades. An exclusion of such transport will endanger the supply in Europe. Besides it is contra productive to consider the good as sustainable investment criteria rather than the carrier. This exclusion needs to be deleted in the delegated act (both in the manufacturing and transport paragraphs) to enable the carriage of fossil fuels with sustainable inland vessels which are a major supplier of the European society and industry (Annex I, par. 3.3., 6.8. and 6.9.) 2. The criteria for climate change mitigation activities as described under 1. a) and b) in section 3.3., 6,7., 6.8. and 6.9. are not considered adequate. The proposed options of zero direct tailpipe CO2 emissions exclude the use of renewable and low carbon fuels. Such fuels will provide a significant decrease of GHG emissions during the transition and may be produced from waste, bio matter or even directly from water and air using renewable energies. We propose a further option allowing equipment that operates on fuels meeting at least such a GHG saving requirement to be included in the Taxonomy. 3. The Reference to heavy duty vehicles is unclear (point 6.8of Annex 1) and the application of thresholds of another transport mode (HDVs) to evaluate whether IWT activities are “green” seems inadequate and could be misleading. We therefore call for a revision of the delegated act in line with article 19 sub 5 of the Taxonomy regulation (EU) 2020/852 at the earliest convenience in order to include classification criteria tailored for this sector. Infrastructure Under the current delegated act the use of waterways is qualified as sustainable only for zero emission vessels. This is contrary to the overall goal to shift transport from road to IWT in the Green Deal. For this purpose it is crucial to include Inland Waterways in general in the screening criteria of the delegated act (Annex I, article 6.16.) and likewise to include maintenance and traffic management systems as activity (Annex I, article 6.15.). We call upon the European Commission to take these comments into consideration.
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Meeting with Stefanie Hiesinger (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

27 Oct 2020 · The position of the European Inland Navigation sector on the public consultation for the FuelEU maritime initiative and the sector’s contribution on delivering the European Green Deal.

Meeting with Daniel Mes (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

14 Oct 2020 · Inland waterways and Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy

Response to Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy

24 Jul 2020

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE EUROPEAN INLAND NAVIGATION SECTOR ON THE FORTHCOMING EU STRATEGY ON SUSTAINABLE AND SMART MOBILITY Inland Waterway Transport pays an important contribution to deliver the future policy and mobility goals. The Communication on the European Green Deal (EGD) announced that the Commission would adopt a strategy for sustainable and smart mobility in 2020. A key objective is to deliver a 90% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to support the EU’s aim to become the first climate neutral continent. The Strategy should also aim to provide more affordable, accessible, healthier and cleaner transport alternatives and contribute to mitigating the impact of transport on our natural environment, including by reducing air, water and noise pollution. As part of the European Green Deal, the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy will give direction to this aim and show a roadmap towards the mobility of the future. The Strategy will set a pathway for the sector master the twin green and digital transitions, building a resilient and crisis-proof transport system for generation to come. The sector previously welcomed the European Green Deal, in particular its aims to reduce transport emissions by shifting a substantial part of the freight carried by road today to inland waterway transport (IWT) and rail. IWT disposes over free capacities on the European network of waterways and already today has very low CO2 emissions compared to road. IWT thus substantially can contribute to realize the European Green Deal. See attachment
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Meeting with Roxana Lesovici (Cabinet of Commissioner Adina Vălean)

9 Jun 2020 · Recovery and European Green deal

Meeting with Diederik Samsom (Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans) and European Skippers Organisation - vzw

4 Feb 2020 · European Green Deal

Meeting with Henrik Hololei (Director-General Mobility and Transport)

16 Oct 2019 · Exchange on EU’s policy on inland waterways

Response to European Hull Database (Inland waterways)

23 Sept 2019

This delegated act is very important for the optimalisation of the use of the EHDB. EBU and the European IWT platform welcome the development of a reliable exchange of information regarding certificates. We however emphasise the need of privacy and data protection. Regarding the reference to Directive (EU) 2016/1629 we suggest not to refer to a version of ES-TRIN as this standard will be amended on a regularly basis.
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Response to Fitness check on market access in Inland waterway transport

26 Aug 2019

EBU FEEDBACK ON THE FITNESS CHECK ON MARKET ACCESS LEGISLATION IN INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORT (see attachment)
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Meeting with Alisa Tiganj (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

5 Mar 2018 · short video clip on the occasion of the 8th of March

Meeting with Alisa Tiganj (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)

6 Feb 2018 · IWT topics

Meeting with Henrik Hololei (Director-General Mobility and Transport)

17 Oct 2016 · IWT

Meeting with Desiree Oen (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc) and Inland Navigation Europe

21 Apr 2016 · TEN-T Days 2016

Meeting with Violeta Bulc (Commissioner) and

24 Feb 2016 · Meeting with sectpr representatives of Inland Waterways Europe (IWW)

Meeting with Desiree Oen (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc) and Inland Navigation Europe

23 Apr 2015 · Inland waterways

Meeting with Violeta Bulc (Commissioner)

3 Mar 2015 · Opening remarks: EBU Conference