ECE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ADOPTS AGREEMENT ON HOMOGENEOUS NETWORK OF INLAND WATERWAYS
Press Release
ECE/460
ECE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ADOPTS AGREEMENT ON HOMOGENEOUS NETWORK OF INLAND WATERWAYS
19960126 GENEVA, 26 January (UN Information Service) -- The Inland Transport Committee of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) today adopted the text of European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance. It complements the set of existing agreements on European road, rail and combined transport networks.As in the other agreements, the waterways Agreement provides an international legal framework on the basis of which governments can plan the development and construction of their inland waterways and ports of international importance in a coordinated manner. This legal instrument establishes the internationally agreed European network of inland waterways and ports, as well as the uniform infrastructure and operational parameters to which they should conform. By acceding to the waterways Agreement, governments will commit themselves to the development and construction of their inland waterways and ports of international importance in accordance with the uniform conditions agreed upon and within their relevant programmes.
The preamble of the Agreement underlines the importance of inland water transport, which in comparison with other modes of inland transport has economical and ecological advantages; it may reduce social costs and negative impacts on the environment by inland transport as a whole.
Inland waterways play an important role in international transport. Thus, Europe needs a homogeneous network suitable for standard vessels, barges and pushed convoys for river and seagoing vessels. For the first time, standard dimensions for all vessels are spelled out in an instrument of a binding character.
By fulfilling the objectives of the Agreement, the share of economically and ecologically sound transport in total tonnage of cargoes moved internationally will be increased and economic cooperation between ECE member countries enhanced.
The system of waterways of international importance serves as the connection between important seaports or coastal routes and the hinterland. That is why the waterways identified in the Agreement provide outlets either to seaports on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the Baltic and the White Sea or to seaports on the coast of the Mediterranean, the Black Sea
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and the Caspian Sea. Extreme northern and southern waterways represent coastal routes encircling the European continent from the White Sea to the Caspian Sea coast.
The geographical scope of the network, consisting of navigable rivers, canals and coastal routes, extends from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural mountains, connecting 37 countries and reaching beyond the European region.
The Agreement will be open for signature at the Office of the United Nations in Geneva from 1 October 1996 to 30 September 1997. It will be open for accession by member States as from 1 October 1996.
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