Russian waterways become a part of the E inland waterway network

Geneva

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.