Structural improvements in inland waterway transport (amend. Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89)

‘Following the policy debate it held on the Commission proposals on the organisation of the inland waterway transport market and supporting measures, the Council: 1. took note of the action programme submitted by the Commission in response to the request made in the Council Resolution of 24 October 1994; 2. agreed on the principle of liberalisation of the inland waterway transport market that gradually limits the scope of the rotation system in order to arrive at a system where there is freedom as regards chartering and pricing in inland waterway transport by 1 January 2000; 3. underlined the need for further substantial structural improvements in order to reduce the capacity of the active fleet by around 15%, while noting that the possibilities for funding such a measure are still to be defined; 4. instructed the Permanent Representatives Committee, in collaboration with the Commission and the Member States, to continue discussions on this matter.’