Meeting of the IWW E70 team with representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the framework of cooperation between regional and central administration in removing barriers, so-called “bottlenecks”, on the Polish section of IWW E70, as well as to determine activities intended to regain navigability and economic use of waterways in Poland.

Current planning activities related to the inland waterways sector were presented, including work on the National Navigation Program 2030, the Multi-year Program entitled “Managing water resources in Poland”, as well as plans related to maintaining the navigability of the Vistula and Odra Rivers.

A further part of the discussions concerned the list prepared by IWW E70 partners of so-called ‘bottlenecks’ on the water connection Odra – Vistula – Vistula Lagoon. Indicated among the most important obstacles on this route were overgrowth of the riverbed and narrowing of the waterway by water plants, milled material, shallows, damaged groynes, and renovation of locks and bridges.

Representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure presented the principles of the document ‘Concept for the management of the Polish section of IWW E70. The planned document is one of the milestones of implementing Goal 3 – Development of partnership for the sustainable development of waterways in the National Navigation Programme 2030. This document should include a diagnosis of the current state along with an inventory and outline of planned infrastructure revitalisation, with particular regard to possibilities of its use in tourist and recreational boating. Development of the concept will also require the conduct of economic analyses on the impact of IWW E70 on social-economic development of regional character, as well as an evaluation of effects on the environment of planned activities. The final effect is the elaboration of a central government document determining the strategy for revitalisation of IWW E70.