National and international inland waterway transport: systems of chartering and pricing

The rapporteur, Mr van der Waal (EDN, NL), said that the three common positions on the privatisation, restructuring and development of the sectors in question had been the subject of an amendment requiring Member States to apply accompanying social measures designed to assist carriers to close down their businesses. Recommendations were also put forward for the introduction of a supplementary programme that would take the form of interest-free loans to be granted by the Member States concerned. Commissioner van den Broek called on Parliament to approve the common position as it stood since the Commission did not intend to take over the amendments tabled.