22 October 2012
EC Issues Guidelines on Inland Waterway Transport and Natura 2000
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The European Commission (EC) has issued the "Inland waterway transport and Natura 2000 – sustainable inland waterway development and management in the context of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives" guidelines to assist the inland navigation sector in ensuring that their activities comply with EU environmental policy and nature legislation.

EC18 October 2012: The European Commission (EC) has issued new guidelines that aim to assist the inland navigation sector in ensuring that their activities comply with EU environmental policy and nature legislation, with a focus on the Birds and Habitats Directives.

The guidelines, which are titled “Inland waterway transport (IWT) and Natura 2000 – sustainable inland waterway development and management in the context of the EU Birds and Habitats Directives,” provide an overview of the policy context of biodiversity conservation and inland navigation in Europe, and describe the legal obligations of infrastructure developers and managers. The guidelines feature chapters on: the EU policy framework; Europe’s rivers; integrated planning; carrying out assessments; and relationships among biodiversity directives. Janez Potočnik, EU Commissioner for Environment, explained that the guidelines aim to increase understanding among multiple stakeholders, “enabling them to design sustainable navigation projects that meet the objectives of IWT while still respecting the ecological values of rivers.”

The guidelines highlight the sector’s achievements in integrating nature protection with inland waterway development and management, providing case study examples of good practice that illustrate consideration of environmental requirements at each stage of infrastructure development and stakeholder inclusion. The guidelines also recognize the role of inland navigation in the long-term sustainability of the EU’s transport network. Siim Kallas, EU Commissioner for Transport, said IWT “is considered to be safe, energy efficient and more environmentally friendly than other transport modes.”

These guidelines are the fourth document on application of EU nature legislation within strategic sectors. Previous guidelines focused on wind energy, non-energy mineral extraction, and developments in estuaries and ports. Natura 2000 is a Europe-wide network covering 18% of the EU’s land surface and more than 145 000 km² of its seas. The designation of Natura 2000 sites requires that any new developments be undertaken in a way that safeguards and the habitat type and species for which the site is designated. [EU Press Release] [Publication: Guidance Document on Inland Waterway Transport and Natura 2000]

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