[Index]
Russian waterways become a part of
the E inland waterway network
Geneva, 5 July 2002
In less than two months, on 29 August 2002, the navigable rivers of the Russian
Federation will formally and officially become an integral part of the European
inland waterway network established in the UNECE European Agreement on Main
Inland Waterways of International Importance (AGN). This is the result of
the recent approval by the Russian Government of this Agreement. The number
of countries engaged in the development of a homogeneous European inland waterway
network, according to the uniform conditions set up in the Agreement, has
grown to thirteen and include: Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Hungary;
Italy; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Netherlands; Republic of Moldova; Romania; Russian
Federation; Slovakia and Switzerland. Five other countries (Austria, Finland,
France, Germany and Greece) that signed the AGN are also expected to become
Contracting Parties to it soon.
This international Agreement, done by all European countries in Geneva in
the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE),
identifies the main international inland waterway links in Europe and establishes
uniform infrastructure and operational parameters to which they should conform.
With the approval of the AGN by the Russian Federation, the international
network of E waterways defined in the Agreement will cover around 28,000 km
of main navigable rivers and canals and about 350 ports of international importance
extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural mountains and connecting 37
countries in Europe and beyond. It also includes coastal routes (see map below).
The Agreement underlines the importance of inland water transport which,
in comparison with other modes of inland transport, presents economic and
environmental advantages and may, therefore, contribute to reducing congestion,
traffic accidents and negative environmental impacts in the pan-European transport
system, particularly along main congested international transport corridors
in Europe.
For further information, please contact:
José Capel Ferrer, Director, or
Viatcheslav Novikov, Economic Affairs Officer,
Transport Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Telephone: +41(0)22 917 24 00 / 917 24 78
Fax: +41(0)22 917 00 39
E-mail: [email protected]
[email protected]
Ref: ECE/TRANS/02/05