On December 12, the new amended RIS Directive was published on the Official Journal of the EU, with its entry into force taking place on January 2nd, 2026, marking a significant step forward in the advancement of the IWT sector in Europe towards more harmonization, interoperability, reliability and modernization. The revision process was initiated in January 2024 by the European Commission, with a proposal for amendment that would include provisions to ensure easier exchange of data among other platforms (such as eFTI and AIS), introducing the possibility of issuing complaints and improving requirements on privacy and data protection, among other points.
The IWT sector welcomes this new directive aiming to bring the current RIS services to a higher level. In this respect, we stress the need for sufficient funding to be made available in particular via the CEF, to support the proper implementation of the new RIS directive as effectively and efficiently possible by the Member States. CEF-Projects (such as RIS COMEX, FENIX, FEDERATED,) are and could be the main driver for realizing harmonized and integrated RIS. Especially with a stronger focus on data exchange with other B2B which are outside the influence of waterway authorities, cooperative project initiatives will become even more relevant and important. The new, amended Directive adds new functionalities and responsibilities for the operation of the RIS platform. The amendment followed the pressing need for the comprehensive implementation of RIS across all Member States within a specified timeframe, and considering how RIS should be integrated into the platform-driven evolution of transport and logistics.
EBU/ESO and the IWT Platform call upon the Member States to properly implement and enforce the directive in due time and expect the European Commission to take a strong governance role. Member States will have to transpose the new provisions into national legislation by 2 January 2029.
Author: Matteo Matarazzo
