A new European Commission report shows that road still dominates inland freight transport. The figures reinforce the need to turn the EU's modal-shift objective into practical investment and implementation.
The European Commission published a new overview of transport and tourism trends on 22 July 2026. The report brings together indicators on competitiveness, sustainability, resilience, connectivity, safety and the social dimension of mobility across the European Union.
For inland waterway transport, its modal-split figures provide a useful reminder of both the sector's potential and the scale of the policy challenge. In 2023, road accounted for 75% of EU inland freight transport measured in tonne-kilometres. Rail represented 16%, inland waterways 5% and pipelines 4%.
A very different picture across Member States
The EU average does not tell the whole story. The report shows large differences between Member States, with inland waterways carrying a much greater share of freight in waterway-rich countries such as the Netherlands and Romania. This confirms that the mode can make a substantial contribution where navigable infrastructure, ports, industrial demand and multimodal connections are in place.
At the same time, the overall figures show that modal shift is not happening at the pace required. Road’s share of intra-EU freight transport increased from 47% in 1995 to 52.6% in 2023 when maritime transport and pipelines are also included in the comparison. The Commission report therefore places the long-standing objective of moving more freight to sustainable modes in a difficult but important context.
From policy objective to implementation
In its waterborne transport section, the report refers to the NAIADES III action plan and its objectives of shifting more cargo to Europe’s rivers and canals and facilitating the transition towards zero-emission barges by 2050. These ambitions remain highly relevant, but they depend on consistent implementation.
For inland navigation, this means maintaining reliable and climate-resilient waterways, modernising the fleet, accelerating the availability of suitable energy infrastructure, advancing digital integration and strengthening connections with ports, rail and road terminals. It also requires predictable public and private investment so that operators can plan fleet-renewal decisions with greater confidence.
The report does not introduce a new inland waterway initiative. Its value lies instead in bringing the evidence together. The 5% EU modal share shows that inland navigation remains underused at European level, while the stronger performance of the mode in several Member States demonstrates what is possible under the right conditions.
Keeping inland waterways visible in EU transport policy
As the EU focuses increasingly on competitiveness, resilience and strategic connectivity, inland waterways should remain part of the wider transport-policy discussion. A reliable waterway network and a competitive fleet can support European industry, reduce pressure on congested land infrastructure and strengthen multimodal supply chains. The latest figures provide another reason to move from recognising this potential to creating the conditions for its use.
Source: New EU Transport and Tourism report highlights key trends and developments – Mobility and Transport
