Inland navigation: structural improvements

This Regulation aims to reduce overcapacity in the inland waterway transport sector.

ACT

Council Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 of 27 April 1989 on structural improvements in inland waterway transport [Official Journal L 116 of 116 of 28.04.1989].

SUMMARY

Statement of measures for the structural improvement of inland waterway transport:

• the scrapping of vessels and the payment of a premium to owners in order to reduce overcapacity in inland waterway transport;
• supporting measures to avoid aggravation of existing overcapacity or the emergence of further overcapacity. This measure is known as the "old for new" rule and applies until 28 April 1999.

Description of vessels covered by the Regulation and those excluded.

Setting-up of a Scrapping Fund in each of the Member States concerned.

Payment of an annual contribution into the Funds by vessel owners for repayment of the sums prefinanced for the scrapping scheme by the Member States concerned.

Establishment of mutual financial support between the Funds in order to ensure that the time limit for repayment of these loans is the same for all the Funds.

Possibility for Member States concerned to take measures to make it easier for inland waterway carriers to obtain a retirement pension or to transfer to another economic activity.

Regulation (EEC) No 3572/90 sets out the provisions applicable following German unification.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2310/96 in respect of the conditions applying to the placing in service of new pusher-craft capacity on inland waterways.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 742/98 in respect of the conditions applying to the placing in service of new dry cargo ships on inland waterways.

RELATED ACTS

On 24 October 1994 the Council adopted a Resolution on structural improvements in inland waterway transport (Official Journal C 309, 05.11.1994). This resolution calls upon the Commission to adopt measures with a view to improving the effectiveness of the regulations on structural improvements in inland waterway transport and to present, before 1 January 1995, an overall proposal on inland waterway transport, concerning in particular the future organization of the market and scrapping operations.

On 3 November 1997 the Commission presented a report on the overall impact of the measures provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 844/94 of 12 April 1994 extending until 28 April 1999 the 'old for new' arrangements in the context of the measures to promote structural improvements in inland waterway transport introduced under Council Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 of 27 April 1989 [COM(97) 555 final].

Last updated: 07.09.2007