EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT – COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT AND TOURISM, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’

Towards an optimal integration of inland waterways in the transport chain

capt. Petar Margić Commission Brussels, January 9th, 2014 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

DANUBE • the world’s most international river basin • great role in the development of external economic relations in Europe

DANUBE COMMISSION • one of the oldest intergovernmental organization in Europe (1856)

DC Session (1961)

Participants to the Congress of Paris (1856)

European Parliament – Committee on Transport and Tourism, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’ Brussels, January 9th, 2014 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• Convention regarding the Regime of Navigation on the Danube (BC), 1948

establishment of the Danube Commission (DC)

11 Member States (1948, 1998)

Austria, , , , , R., , , , , .

9 Observers (2001, 2006, 2008, 2012)

Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, , FYRM, Greece, Montenegro, the Netherlands, .

European Parliament – Committee on Transport and Tourism, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’ Brussels, January 9th, 2014 TASKS

specified in Art. 8 of the Convention

• define the plan of major works on the Danube river in the interests of the navigation • establishment of a unified system of signals and pilot services • unification of rules of river surveillance • coordination of hydrometeorological services • harmonization of inland navigation rules • deliver advice, recommendations • provide statistical data on Danube navigation • publications Technical requirements are of great importance, but we are also concerned about infrastructure and ready, willing and able to cooperate with EC.

European Parliament – Committee on Transport and Tourism, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’ Brussels, January 9th, 2014 Declaration on effective waterway infratructure maintenance on the Danube and its navigable tributaries Danube Ministers Meeting Luxemburg 7 June 2012 Importance of infrastructure – TEN-T and CEF Programmes for new works

European Parliament – Committee on Transport and Tourism, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’ Brussels, January 9th, 2014 DANUBE COMMISSION – PLAN OF ACTIVITIES

• Meeting with Directors of Danube Shipping Companies – Members of Bratislava Agreements – feedback from industry Followed Workshop of September 2013

• Strengthening ties DC/EC- DG MOVE – the Danube Commission takes the role of coordinator for the maintenance of the Danube fairway

• Close alliance with the markets of the other river basins

• Continued cooperation with the CCNR on market observation, inter alia, launching new projects, e.g., consolidated Glossary on inland navigation – uniform terminology, recreational navigation, etc.

• Follow-up meeting on Luxemburg Declaration – Ministerial level

• Participation in latest initiatives: NAIADES II, CESTE

European Parliament – Committee on Transport and Tourism, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’ Brussels, January 9th, 2014 NAIADES II "Towards quality inland waterway transport "

Source: NAIADES II

• Danube Commission can support the principle of quality of inland navigation – at the level of the European continent

• "Reserve fund" : the DC can support the principles of promoting greening and innovation – although little involvement in the constitution of the reserve fund

European Parliament – Committee on Transport and Tourism, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’ Brussels, January 9th, 2014 NAIADES II Programme for policy action in the field of inland waterway transport for the period 2014-2020

• On the proposal for technical requirements: support to the idea of Pan- European standards provided that the view of all DC Member States can be taken into consideration

• The European Parliament should express its support to inland navigation – paying particular attention to the issues of

- financial crisis of the sector - navigability of the European waterways

European Parliament – Committee on Transport and Tourism, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’ Brussels, January 9th, 2014 Message to the European Parliament

Pan-European approach for Inland Navigation

RES, NON VERBA

BETTER DANUBE, BETTER REGION

European Parliament – Committee on Transport and Tourism, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’ Brussels, January 9th, 2014 Thank you for your attention!

Petar Margić Director-General Secretariat of the Danube Commission [email protected] H-1068 Benczur utca 25

European Parliament – Committee on Transport and Tourism, Public Hearing ‘’NAIADES II’’ Brussels, January 9th, 2014