1.      European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance – in English. The European Agreement on Main Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN), signed on 19 January 1996 at Geneva, is the basic document indicating the directions for the development of inland waterway networks in Europe. Its goal is to provide a legal framework which lays down a coordinated plan for the development and construction of a network of inland waterways of international importance, based on agreed infrastructure and operational parameters. The network specified in AGN is divided into nine main water transport routes of over 27 thousand kilometres in length and it connects ports in 37 European states. (United Nations, year 1996, p. 90).

 

2.      White Paper. European transport policy for 2010: time to decide. An agenda of measures for European transport by 2010. A very important document from the perspective of inland water transport development. The study shows huge costs arising from the imbalance between different modes of transport and a threat of hindering economic development in Europe, if measures are not taken to bring balance to transport by introducing intermodal forms of transport and stimulating the development of waterway transport (Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, year 2001, p. 100).

 

3.      Communication from the Commission on the promotion of inland waterway transport “NAIADES” – An Integrated European Action Programme for Inland Waterway Transport. ◦      In 2006, the Commission of the European Communities adopted the NAIDES programme, focusing on five inter-dependent strategic policy areas in the field of inland waterway transport, which include: Market, Fleet, Jobs and skills, Image and Infrastructure. It recommends action to be taken between 2006-13. They can be classified as legislative, coordination, and support measures (Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, year 2006, p. 17).

 

4.      Communication from the Commission of the European Communities. Keep Europe moving. Sustainable mobility for our continent. Mid-term review of the European Commission’s 2001 Transport White Paper ◦      The communication confirms that the White Paper of 2001 is still relevant and indicates that it has a longer-term nature than until 2010, and is consistent with the objectives of the Lisbon agenda for jobs and growth. It indicates that, due to the enlargement of the European Union to include 25 members, the document of 2001 should be revised. The Communication states that the internal EU market has already brought benefits and it is expected that the implementation of the objectives of the White Paper will be beneficial to rail and waterborne transport, which will become more competitive, especially on longer routes (Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, year 2006, p. 34).

 

5.      List of Community inland waterways. A structured list of European waterways divided into four zones and according to individual European states, indicating which sections are of navigational importance (Official Journal of the European Union C 303 E/168, year 2006, p. 21).

 

6.      Transport White Paper. Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area. Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system. ◦      In 2011, another White Paper on transport policy was adopted. The document is an attempt to outline a framework of action strategies for almost all of the European continent and its 500 million citizens in a perspective up till 2050. It recommends reducing the energy intensity of transport, shifting road freight over a distance of more than 300 km to rail transport, strengthening the multimodal base and using intelligent forms of management and obtaining clean energy for transport. Multimodality – mainly railways and inland waterways – it should replace at least 50% road transport over distances greater than 300 km (Council of the European Union, Brussels, year 2011; p. 35).