Doc. 10738


8 November 2005

European waterways: focus on the Danube-Oder-Elbe Canal project

Opinion¹

Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs

Rapporteur: Mr Miloš Kužvart, Czech Republic, Socialist Group

1.        The Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs welcomes the report from the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development as the first comprehensive, detailed and accurate report on this complex project.

2.       European waterways play an essential role in the transport of bulk cargo, raw materials and containers. It is necessary to address the missing connection between the Oder and Danube rivers.

3.       Two crucial next steps to accelerate this project should be the conduction of a feasibility study and an environmental impact assessment, on the basis of protecting the territorial integrity of the canal corridor. The environmental impact assessment needs to be undertaken from a national as well as from an international perspective, as the threats of this project towards adjacent wetlands need to be assessed.

4.       The most important challenge for this project remains the uncertainty regarding its financing, as total costs have been estimated to amount around 5.2 billion Euros.

5.       Engaging in discussions with civil society, including environmental non-governmental organisations, regarding this project is another area where further work is needed, as little progress has been made to date to achieve a common understanding.

6.       While emphasising its support for the draft resolution tabled by the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development, the Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs proposes the following amendments thereto:

Amendment 1: At the end of paragraph 1, replace the word “tourism” by the words “multifarious passenger traffic, and increasingly for tourism and recreation.”

Explanation:

Passenger transport continues to be important on certain European waterways, and the popularity of recreational vessels (including small pleasure boats and big river cruisers) is increasing.

Amendment 2: At the end of paragraph 2 insert the following new sentence:

“In addition, waterways can sometimes play an important role in regulating the water system, for example through the creation of wetlands, to avoid the flooding of farmland and residential areas in certain regions"

Explanation:

It can be demonstrated – especially in the case of the Danube-Oder-Elbe canal – that modern waterways can improve the environmental situation in certain regions, where man-made wetland biotopes can contribute to flood prevention.

Amendment 3: At the end of paragraph 5 insert the following new sentence:

“The feasibility studies should be divided into stages and the conception of the route should be optimised, taking account of recent trends in inland navigation, flood prevention, water transfer projects and water management.”

Explanation:

In the explanatory memorandum (paras 27 and 28), possible stages for the construction are described. The resolution should therefore stress that the canal does not represent a big indivisible project. Moreover, modernisation of the current concept is necessary in order to meet new progressive trends in river transportation as well as environmental protection.

Amendment 4: After sub-paragraph 7.5, insert a new sub-paragraph, as follows:

“study the possible environmental impacts of the increase in traffic of passenger, commercial and tourism vessels on European waterways.”

Explanation:

Tourism on rivers and canals has increased enormously over the last decade (not just for small pleasure crafts, but also large river cruisers) but few studies have been made on their environmental impacts.

* * *

Reporting committee: Committee on Economic Affairs and Development

Committee for opinion: Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs

Reference to committee: Doc. 10005, Reference No 2910 of 26 January 2004.

Opinion approved by the Committee on 3 November 2005

Secretariat of the Committee: Mr Sixto, Mr Torcatoriu, Mrs Lasen-Diaz

¹ See Doc. 10730, tabled by the Committee on Economic Affairs and Development.