Press Release: Commission clears Austrian environmental premium for inland waterway

The European Commission has decided not to raise objections to a pilot programme by the Austrian Federal Government aimed at encouraging a modal shift in favour of inland waterways. The pilot programme grants an environmental premium to new inland waterway services on the Danube river. Between 2001 and 2005, the Austrian Pilot Programme intends to shift 3% of international road transport to, from and via Austria in the Danube corridor to new inland waterway services. This would result in 2.5 million tons transferred from road to a more environmentally friendly mode of transport.