Transport of goods by inland waterway: freedom to provide services

The Council held a policy debate on the proposal for a regulation to introduce Community rules on access to transport between Member States to ensure application of the principles of freedom to provide services within the Community. The Regulation is necessary to ensure freedom to provide services in this area as a consequence of the accession of Austria, which is bound by bilateral conventions with two other Member States, Germany and the Netherlands, as regards inland waterway transport. At the end of the debate the President noted a consensus broadly in favour of the proposal. The Permanent Representatives Committee will continue discussions with a view to the adoption of a common position as soon as the European Parliament has delivered its opinion.