22 Inland waterways
| (25707)
9912/04
COM(04) 392
| Draft Directive on harmonised river traffic information services on inland waterways in the Community
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| Legal base | Article 71 EC; co-decision; QMV
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| Department | Transport
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| Basis of consideration | Minister's letter of 5 October 2004
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| Previous Committee Report | HC 42-xxv (2003-04), para 2 (30 June 2004)
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| To be discussed in Council | Not known
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| Committee's assessment | Politically important
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| Committee's decision | Cleared
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Background
22.1 Europe has over 30,000 kilometres (nearly 19,000 miles) of
canals and rivers connecting hundreds of towns and industrial
areas. A core of about 10,000 kilometres (6,250 miles) connects
the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Austria.
The Commission's 2001 White Paper, European Transport Policy
for 2010: time to decide, noted inland water transport as
a key part of a European intermodal transport system in which
links with rail and short sea shipping would give an alternative
to a congested road network. During recent years the capabilities
and use of new technologies in inland navigation have greatly
increased.
The document
22.2 This draft Directive would create a Europe-wide harmonised
framework for River Traffic Information Services (RIS) in order
to ensure compatibility and interoperability between current and
new RIS systems and to achieve effective interaction between different
information services on inland waterways categorised as of international
importance by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (being suitable
for vessels over 1,000 tonnes). It would apply also to inland
ports with at least 500,000 tonnes of freight per year.
22.3 When we considered this document in June 2004
we noted that, although the draft Directive appeared to offer
useful benefits, it might well have little or no application in
the UK. We asked to hear the outcome of the Government's consideration
of the extent to which it would seek exemption for the UK from
the proposed Directive before considering it further. We also
asked to hear about the cost implications if the Government did
decide to accept some application of the measure in the UK.[45]
The Minister's letter
22.4 The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,
Department of Transport (Mr David Jamieson) now tells us:
"The wording of the original draft of the Directive
was not entirely clear as to whether UK would be able to seek
full exemption and/or disapply the provisions of the Directive
for all UK inland waterways. However, in Council working group
we have succeeded in negotiating clearer wording on the Directive's
scope.
"The revised draft Directive makes it explicit
that harmonised RIS need only be established on those inland waterways
of the relevant classes that are linked to inland waterways of
other Member States. As the UK does not have any linked inland
waterways of the relevant classes, the Directive would not place
any obligations in relation to UK waterways. Furthermore, the
text of the proposed Directive is now addressed only to those
Member States which do have inland waterways falling within the
scope of the Directive.
"I am therefore pleased to report that, as drafted,
the UK would not need to transpose the Directive into UK law so
there would be no cost burdens imposed on UK industry."
Conclusion
22.5 We are grateful to the Minister for this
information. Since the proposal, as drafted, is no longer to apply
to the UK we clear the document.
45 See headnote. Back
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