In today's enlarged European Union goods can be transported without restriction in a fully liberalised inland waterway transport market. 20 out of 27 Member States have inland waterways and 12 have an interconnected waterway network. Together with rail and short sea shipping, inland waterway transport can essentially contribute to alleviate Europe's congested road networks. It is an obvious choice for moving freight in an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and safe way.

The 2006 NAIADES Action Programme sets out how the obstacles that still prevent inland waterway transport from reaching its full potential shall be tackled. The programme focuses on the five strategic, inter-dependent areas necessary for a comprehensive policy: market, fleet, jobs and skills, image and infrastructure.

Encouraging entrepreneurship should help the inland waterway transport sector to investigate in new markets, to attract newcomers to the sector and to enable existing businesses to expand. However, high investment costs, financial risks and difficult access to finance are hindrances to the expansion or creation of new businesses and to the establishment of new services, especially for private ship owners and small and medium-sized enterprises.

In view of this situation, knowledge and thus a better use of support programmes available to the sector on both the European and at the regional or national level can essentially contribute to tapping the full potential of inland waterway transport.

For this reason, the present European Funding Database for Inland Waterway Transport is designed as a compact and user-friendly tool for companies active or planning to become active in the inland waterway transport sector.

The Funding Database contains information on European and national funding programmes which are publicly available to the inland waterway and intermodal transport sector, whereas financial means for equity and investment financing are offered on the capital market. It provides concise, country-specific information on the respective national and regional funding policies, on funding subjects and criteria as well as on institutions and organisations in charge of handling applications for funding, including contact persons.

I am confident that this database will support you in finding the right financial backing for putting your innovative ideas into action.

Matthias Ruete
Director-General for Energy and Transport
European Commission