SEA Europe, the association representing the European industry shipbuilding, fears that the planned new standards on State aid for land transport and multimodal, in the part relating to inland waterway transport will not reward innovation and sustainability, and risk benefiting non-European shipyards. By participating with your own contribution to the public consultation on the revision of these rules that will end on Friday the appreciation for the initiative of the European Commission to support the road transport sector inland waterways, SEA Europe has nevertheless urged the introduction of in the new rules of more ambitious requirements so that priority is given to sustainability, and high-tech solutions.

The transport sector on Europe's inland waterways, which annually transports 150 billion tonne-km of goods, is characterized by an outdated fleet and is a sector with limited financial capacity that is constituted mainly by small and medium-sized enterprises and by companies run by familiar. The European Commission's intent is to facilitate the access of these companies to state subsidies to the modernization of the fleet.

If the objective of the revision of the rules is shared by SEA Europe, the association noted, however, that the current draft revision does not set the conditions for the use of cutting-edge green technologies for the purchase of new boats and, according to the association, this lack is A missed opportunity to promote innovation and transition towards digitalisation and decarbonisation.

In addition, SEA Europe complained that the proposed rules do not require vessels to be built or modernised in the European shipyards and this - highlighted the association - involves the risk that EU countries' funds will be used to non-European shipbuilding companies that often benefit from their national subsidies, to the further detriment of European shipyards.

Finally, for SEA Europe, the draft revision of the rules is eligibility for aid and would be It is therefore necessary to establish more clear for European shipyards and suppliers of maritime equipment can access aid for the construction and modernisation of transport vessels on inland waterways.