Opinion on the proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 on structural improvements in inland waterway transport

(95/C 301/06)

On 13 September 1995 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Article 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned proposal.

The Section for Transport and Communications, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 10 July 1995. The rapporteur was Mr Eulen.

At its 328th Plenary Session (meeting of 13 September 1995), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following Opinion by a unanimous vote.

1. Gist of the Commission proposal

1.1. Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 of 27 April 1989 () introduced arrangements for structural improvements in inland waterway transport, designed primarily to reduce structural overcapacities through scrapping schemes coordinated at Community level.

To this end, the Member States concerned have provided national scrapping funds with resources to pay scrapping premiums to the owners of vessels who submitted applications before 30 June 1994, pursuant to Commission Regulation (EC) No 3039/94 of 14 December 1994 ().

1.2. However, because of the crisis in the sector, further applications for scrapping premiums have been submitted since 30 June 1994 and, with the funds available being limited, extra money needs to be provided temporarily.

1.3. The budget authority has therefore decided to enter an amount of ECU 5m in the Community budget for 1995, and to earmark this for the Community co-financing of current scrapping measures, i.e. the scrapping of vessels on the waiting list.

1.4. The purpose of the current proposal is to amend Regulation (EEC) No 1101/89 so as to provide a legal basis for:

- allocating the aforementioned ECU 5m to structural improvement measures in inland waterway transport; and

- providing for Community co-financing of the total structural improvement package for 1995 to 1998.

1.5. In addition, the use of resources from the Member States in question to finance the funds is to be put on a legal footing, the principle of solidarity between (national) funds is to be extended to all resources and expenditure, and the Commission is to ensure that the Regulation is applied uniformly and that fund operations are coordinated.

2. General comments

2.1. The Committee would point out that this Commission proposal is directly linked to the package of legislative measures on the liberalization of the inland waterway market and accompanying measures. This package is based on the Council Resolution of 24 October 1994 () and has also been referred to the Committee for an Opinion.

2.1.1. The sole justification for the presentation of a separate proposal for 1995 is the urgency caused by the budgetary procedure. Nonetheless, the proposed changes go further than the procedure requires.

2.2. The Committee welcomes the provision of Community funds for structural improvements in inland waterway transport. These funds will make it possible, in particular, to scrap vessels which are already on the waiting list. This is a matter which the Committee has already called for, most recently in its Opinion on inland waterway transport ().

2.3. In view of the crisis in inland waterway transport the scrapping funds are in urgent need of money from the Community and presumably from the Member States in question, too. However, the nature and scope of the structural improvements, which so far have mainly been financed by the sector, will be changed as a result. Hence the special importance of ensuring the uniform application of the Regulation and also appraising the effectiveness of the measures for strengthening inland waterway transport.

2.4. It would seem to make sense, in the context of a liberalized common market, to aim for full solidarity between the funds. However, this will also touch on the question of the redistribution of public funds between Member State in connection with their inland shipping fleets. The Committee assumes that compensation between funds will be by agreement and the future of the scrapping schemes themselves will not in principle be jeopardized by any conflicts.

Done at Brussels, 13 September 1995.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Carlos FERRER

() OJ No L 116, 28. 4. 1989, p. 25; ESC Opinion in OJ No C 318, 12. 12. 1988, p. 58.

() OJ No L 322, 15. 12. 1994, p. 11.

() OJ No C 309, 5. 11. 1994, p. 5.

() OJ No C 393, 31. 12. 1994, p. 60.