TRAN COMMITTEE ADOPTS REPORT ON RIVER INFORMATION SERVICES
On 18 March, MEPs from the Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee adopted a report on the revision of the Directive on river information services (RIS), setting the rules for the EU inland waterways.
The Parliament position aligns with the Commission proposal on supporting further RIS digitalisation through a single digital platform to replace the multiple bilateral channels currently used. MEPs also want the platform to be open to third countries whose waterways are connected to those of the EU, provided they meet data quality and cybersecurity requirements. However, the report removes the provisions related to the interconnection of RIS with IT services for other modes, namely the eFTI Regulation and the European Maritime Single Window environment. The Rapporteur considers that any development in the role and place of eFTI should be addressed via a cross-sectoral review of the eFTI Regulation, without imposing a strict interconnection with RIS at this stage.
In addition, MEP chose to maintain the scope of the current Directive, applying to inland waterways and ports that are part of a cross-border network only, while the Commission wanted to extend it to all inland waterways part of the TEN-T network. The Parliament aligns here with the Council General approach adopted in June 2024. The report proposes to task the Commission to evaluate 3 years after the entry into force of the new Directive the potential costs and benefits of extending its scope.
The report will be put to vote in the next EP Plenary session early April, and trilogues with the Council are expected to start shortly after.
Source: European Parliament