European Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) Platform: its origin
Thanks to continuous efforts of EBU and ESO, the two associations representing the interests of ” Inland Shipping Enterpreneurs “, succeeded in having EC regulation 718/1999 amended.
In practice this means that since mid 2014 the fund originally intended to be used for Community- fleet capacity policy can also be used to adapt vessels to technical progress, including higher environmental standards. At the same time the amended regulation allows EBU and ESO to strengthen and to mitigate fragmentation.
For all these purposes the joint platform ” European IWT Platform ” was established. This separate legal entity will be coordinated by the two associations and it will strenghten the industry by participating pro-actively in the decisionmaking processes related to the areas covered by IWT’s Committees. The platform, which brings together relevant expertise from both EBU and ESO , will be based in Brussels, close to the heart of European IWT policy making.
Since the launch of IWT platform on 21/1/2019, during which DG Move’s Director General gave an inspiring speech, the IWT platform did not sit still. Indeed, we had regular meetings with the policymakers in DG-MOVE discussing social, environmental, technological and other matters. We actively participated in meetings organised by ALICE and WATERBORNE, driving further research and innovation. And we made clear to the European Commission that we want to be at the forefront in the Digital Transport and Logistics Forum (DTLF) ; a forum that aims to digitalise all B2B and B2A communication across the whole transportchain
At the same time we contributed (and still are) contributing to the organisation of the upcoming event under the Finnish Presidency to show innovation in our sector in the Port of Brussel on October 16 and are working on a joint IWT & ports sector narrative that soon will be published. Both initiatives are aiming at convincing the “newcomers” in the Commission and Parliament about the potential Inland Waterway shipping has. Outside “Brussels”, IWT took the stage on many different occasions and left those stages with a positive feedback in our backpockets..
That, and much more, happened since IWT’s launch, but although not fully operational before that time, a lot was done already during 2018. What was done, how it was done and by whom and what we aim for in 2019 and beyond can be read in this report.
Last but not least we created this website. Though it is still work in progress, it is time “ go live “ . When surfing you will be able to discover IWT’s origin and structure, its objectives, its team and a lot more. It’s the ambition to report through the website about the work done by the respective Committees and to inform relevant stakeholders about what IWT considers as important matters
