GO GREEN, GO SMART - CHOOSE DANUBE IWT: High-Level Event successfully co-organised by CPMR and Pro Danube in the European Parliament

1Pro Danube International was honoured to co-organise with the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions in the frame of the Seas, Rivers, Islands, and Coastal Areas Intergroup of the European Parliament the high-level event “Inland Waterways Transport in the Danube: Taking Stock of the NAIADES III Strategy”. The event, co-hosted by MEP Carmen Avram and MEP Caroline Nagtegaal, represents a highlight of our Europe-wide campaign dedicating the year 2022 to the promotion of Danube Logistics and Tourism under the motto “GO GREEN, GO SMART – CHOOSE DANUBE IWT”.

Both the European Strategy for Smart and Sustainable Mobility as well as NAIADES III, as part of the EU Green Deal, seek to increase the share of Inland Waterways Transport (IWT) by 25% by 2030 and by 50% by 2050.  At the same time, given that one of the main challenges for the IWT sector is to make the necessary energy transition and to look for alternative energy sources and propulsions, the event provided the scene to discuss highly important aspects directly affecting the immediate future of IWT. Key-note speeches were delivered by important actors representing both the public (European Parliament and European Commission) as well as the private sectors.

In her opening speech, Ms. Caroline Nagtegaal-Van Doorn highlighted the fact that the Danube is an important shipping route for the European inland navigation in Central and Eastern Europe, connecting ten EU and non-EU countries. A key logistics axis of the entire region – and beyond, the Danube Region faces specific challenges. These challenges were high on the agenda of the event.

Representing a wide network of businesses operating on the Danube, Pro Danube International was represented by its Chairman Mr. Herfried Leitner and General Secretary Mr. Robert Rafael. Given the ambitious plan of the EU to become climate neutral and highlighting IWT’s crucial role in supporting this pathway, PDI’s Chairman discussed the prerequisite for a competitive Danube waterborne transportation. In order to support the transition towards climate neutrality while keeping a sharp eye on economic viability, several aspects need to be considered:

  • Securing an efficient waterway infrastructure and maintenance, as there are still some serious bottlenecks that hamper navigability. To overcome these limitations in the fairway, we – as Pro Danube International - proposed to the Commission - that the IWT-sector, together with the waterway administrations should join forces and regularly and proactively, come together, and prepare a set of measures to maintain a Good Navigation Status.
  • Provide support for the development of high-performing ports that serve as regional economic hubs and that enable the integration of IWT into multimodal logistic supply chains. Even though Danube ports understand their role in the logistics industry, there still is some room for improvements like less rigid regulatory barriers and obstacles for the creation of just-in-time synchromodal logistics solutions, then a higher level of automatization, and last but not least, flexible (as we call it) Port Services On Demand – services in the ports, which are available 24 hours – 7 days a week, like at train stations – or airports.
  • When it comes to multi-modal solutions - there is a gap between the Upper & Lower parts of the Danube. We, therefore, need multi-modal solutions to reach the NAIADES III targets – and this is where we have to focus in the future – being ready for multi-modal services in the lower Danube section.
  • Likewise important - one of the greatest challenges the sector faces is the source of energy. As of today, we are certain in saying there will be no "one solution fits all". Whatever the energy source will be, one thing is clear - it must be available along all routes. It would make no sense to use one source of energy on the Rhine and another one on the Danube.
  • Customers of the sector, like steel manufacturers, fertilizer producers and the supply chain of agricultural products, rely on the waterborne transportation services across those rivers and between the regions. And the same goes of course also for the tourism – the vessel cruising - sector. This is a responsibility we have and therefore, we must ensure a coordinated, common approach between the regions.
  • Digital transportation is another "hot topic" for the future of the industry. River Information Services and data (thanks to projects like the RIS COMEX) enable today's waterway transport and logistics users to properly calculate routes and it also enables us to lift documentation hurdles and remove administrative barriers. And this is where Pro Danube International says - “Same River – Same Rules” - no need anymore - for handwritten papers at border crossing and controls. Let’s re-use available data in the system, and save time and money for the operators.

Mr. Vasile Varvaroi, President of the Romanian Grain Traders Association (ARCPA) stressed in his intervention that the Danube is the most important means of transportation for customers worldwide through the Port of Constanta. Moreover, he underlined the great importance of IWT for the transport of Ukraine’s products – with this mode of transport playing an essential role in the functioning of the Solidarity Lanes.
 
The perspective of the tourism sector was brought in by Mr. Radu Comanici, the representative of Lüftner Cruises. In his intervention, Mr. Comanici stated that even though highly appreciated – the tourism sector on the Danube is still facing some difficulties mainly as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sector is nevertheless slowly but surely recovering.
 
Representing DG MOVE, Ms. Daniela Rosca presented and discussed the European Commission’s objectives for the Danube Region such as supporting the sector’s transition towards climate neutrality while making IWT smarter & more attractive. Equally important is the creation of adequate premises for sustainable jobs.
 
In her closing speech, Ms. Nagtegaal stressed that the transport connection – via the recently implemented Solidarity Lanes – has to be further improved. IWT may play in this regard an essential role. Ms. Nagtegaal furthermore advocated for the introduction of a special European inland navigation fund to help the sector with its green and digital transition.

Pro Danube International would like to use this opportunity to thank all the keynote speakers as well as the attendees for their participation in this very important event. Special thanks go as well to our co-organisers CPMR and the SEArica Intergroup for hosting the event.

If you missed the event - the recording is available for download here

How to secure the future of inland navigation in the long term: position paper handed over to the Austrian BMK by PDI and PDA

Pressefoto-min.jpgWith the European Green Deal's overarching commitment to make the EU climate neutral by 2050, the scene is set for a vast transformation of the entire transport system. This poses serious challenges to the future of inland navigation, requiring great effort and determination from both the public and private sectors to succeed. In order to efficiently adapt to the EU's ambitious climate goals, several support measures - both at national and international levels - are required. Highlighting IWT's obvious strengths in terms of transported volumes, low emission rates, energy efficiency, and last but not least - its vital role in the implementation process of the European Green Deal - the representatives of Pro Danube Austria and Pro Danube International handed over a position paper containing demands and proposed measures to adequately support the sector's pathway to climate neutrality while keeping a sharp eye on economic prosperity - to the representative of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Ms. Vera Hofbauer, Head of Directorate General IV - Transport.



Key elements of the position paper include the following:

Gruppenfoto min 1
  • Decisions should be taken in a politically coordinated manner preferably at the European - or at least at Corridor - level;
  • Take measures to counteract the shortage of skilled workers by making jobs more attractive;
  • Provide concise implementation plans at the European level for the use of environmentally friendly alternative fuels in inland navigation;
  • Facilitate the active involvement of technology manufacturers to develop and implement the best possible solutions;
  • Good navigation status at corridor level to enable adequate fairway maintenance;
  • Introduction of uniform financing models, easily accessible to all involved actors;
  • Uniform funding criteria at EU level.

Even though handed over to Austrian decision-makers - the position paper retains validity for the entire Danube IWT sector. 

The position paper, elaborated in German, is available for download here.

Save the Date: High-Level Event co-organised by CPMR & Pro Danube in the European Parliament

EU Parliament EventWe cordially invite you to participate in the high-level event co-organised by Pro Danube International in the frame of our Europe-wide campaign, dedicating the year 2022 to the promotion of Danube Logistics and Tourism under the motto

The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness on recent and planned developments focusing on new beginnings in line with the European policy framework, highlighting the strengths and opportunities of Danube waterborne transport, while bringing together policy and decision-makers, experts, and the business sector in order to achieve the European goal of increasing transport by inland waterways and short sea shipping by 25% by 2030, and by 50% by 2050.

Entitled "Inland Waterways Transport in the Danube: taking stock of the NAIADES III Strategy", the online event is co-hosted by MEP Carmen Avram, SEArica Vice-Chair for the Danube and the Black Sea & MEP Caroline Nagtegaal, SEArica member & EP rapporteur of "Towards Future-proof Inland Waterway Transport (IWT) in Europe". Pro Danube will set the regional perspective with inputs from key business stakeholders. 

The event is supported by SEArica - Seas, Rivers, Islands & Coastal Areas Intergroup of the European Parliament and is co-organised by Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions and Pro Danube International. 

For details and registration please click here.

Pro Danube proudly announces new project involvement: H2 meets H2O

h2 logo fullWe are thrilled to announce our participation in a new project: H2 meets H2O. The aim of the exploratory project is to assess the feasibility and applicability of hydrogen supply along the Danube as a logistics backbone from a technical, legal, and socio-economic perspective.

Therefore, based on a multimodal supply concept, from the production of hydrogen up to the end-users, the logistical basis for a subsequent R&D project with innovative pilot applications for inland waterway vessels, railways and trucks shall be created. The preparatory work of the exploratory study will be structured along three pillars:

  • Analysis of basic principles and implementation potential,
  • Stakeholder analysis & network development,
  • Result utilisation & monitoring.
Quick facts: