EU Inland Waterway Transport Policy Beyond 2027: what should come after NAIADES III?
On 19 January 2026, around 70 participants from across the inland waterway transport community met in Brussels for the “EU Inland Waterway Transport Policy Beyond 2027” workshop. The event was organised by the European Commission together with PLATINA4Action, of which the European Inland Waterway Transport Platform is a partner and, Inland Navigation Europe (INE).
The day was deliberately structured in two parts. In the morning, participants looked back at the implementation of NAIADES III, taking stock of what has worked and where gaps remain. This was complemented by analytical input from PLATINA4Action, including a presentation of the Digital Twin for inland waterway transport. By modelling long-term policy scenarios and their effects on modal share, emissions and fleet renewal, the tool offered a concrete basis for discussion.
The afternoon shifted the focus firmly to the future. Through moderated breakout sessions, participants explored what should come next for EU inland navigation policy. Held under Chatham House rules, these exchanges allowed for open, frank and sometimes challenging conversations about priorities, trade-offs and ambitions beyond 2027.
The workshop brought together a wide range of voices: representatives from European institutions, national ministries, infrastructure managers, industry, social partners, research bodies and sector organisations. This diversity reflected the “extended” inland navigation community and ensured that the discussion went well beyond institutional perspectives alone.
The European Inland Waterway Transport Platform was closely involved throughout the day. Its General Manager, Matteo Matarazzo, and Communications Officer, Fulvio Esposito, acted as moderators and support team in the breakout sessions, helping to moderate the debates and capture key messages. The Platform was also strongly represented among participants, with the presence of the Secretaries of its Committees and its Executive Directors, Theresia Hacksteiner and Gerard Kester.
Rather than producing a single set of conclusions, the workshop left participants with sharper questions:
What does “competitiveness” really mean for inland navigation in 2035?
How can European policy better reflect the realities on board and along the waterways?
And how can the EU create the conditions for inland waterways to become a true backbone of a resilient, low-carbon transport system?
These reflections will feed into the ongoing NAIADES implementation process and the wider debate on the future of EU transport policy. The European Inland Waterway Transport Platform will remain actively engaged, ensuring that the sector’s experience and expertise continue to shape what comes after NAIADES III as future policy framework.
