EU statistics of goods transport by inland waterways

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2018/974 on statistics of goods transport by inland waterways

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It sets out the rules for the production of comparable EU-wide statistics on inland waterways freight transport.
It seeks to provide a picture of the volume and performance of freight transport on the EU inland waterway network.
It codifies and repeals Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006 which had been substantially amended several times.

KEY POINTS

Scope

EU countries must each compile and transmit to the European Commission (Eurostat) data relating to inland waterways transport.

The regulation does not apply to the carriage of goods by vessels of less than 50 deadweight tonnes or to vessels:

used mainly for transporting passengers;
used for ferrying purposes;
used solely for non-commercial purposes by port authorities and public authorities;
used solely for bunkering or storage;
not used to carry goods such as fishery vessels, dredgers, floating workshops, houseboats and pleasure craft.

EU countries in which the total volume of goods transported annually by inland waterways — national, international or transit — exceeds 1 million tonnes must provide data stipulated in the tables in Annexes I to IV to the regulation.

EU countries which do not have international or transit inland waterways transport, but in which the total volume of goods transported annually by inland waterways as national transport exceeds 1 million tonnes, shall supply only the data required by Annex V to the regulation.

The effect of this regulation is limited to those countries in which this mode of transport exists.

Pilot studies

By 8 December 2018, the European Commission, in cooperation with EU countries, is to develop the appropriate methodology for compiling statistics on passenger transport by inland waterways, including by cross-border transport services.
In 2019, the Commission will launch voluntary pilot studies to be carried out by EU countries that provide data within the scope of this regulation on the availability of statistical data relating to passenger transport by inland waterways. The studies shall assess the feasibility of those new data collections, the costs of the related data collections and the statistical quality implied.
By 8 December 2020, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the results of the pilot studies.

Data collection and transmission

Data are reported on the basis of the territoriality principle whereby each country reports the loading, unloading and movements of goods that take place on its national territory.
The tables in Annexes I to V to the regulation lay down the rules and formats for data collection.
EU countries must transmit to Eurostat the data they have gathered no later than 5 months after the end of the relevant period of observation.
The Commission is to adopt implementing acts laying down the arrangements for transmitting data to Eurostat.

Dissemination of data

Eurostat disseminates the data at a frequency similar to that laid down for the transmission of data (quarterly or annually).

Quality of data

The Commission is to adopt implementing acts laying down the methodological requirements and criteria designed to ensure the quality of the data produced.
EU countries must ensure the quality of data transmitted and supply the Commission (Eurostat) with a report containing such information and data as it may request in order to verify the quality of the data transmitted.

Reports on implementation

The Commission (Eurostat) shall report for the first time by 31 December 2020, and thereafter every 5 years, to the European Parliament and the Council on the regulation’s implementation and on future developments.

Committee procedure

The Commission is advised and assisted by the European Statistical System Committee established by Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 (How the European Statistical System works).

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 5 August 2018. Regulation (EU) 2018/974 codifies and replaces Regulation (EC) No 1365/2006 and its subsequent amendments.

BACKGROUND

For more information, see:

Inland waterways transport statistics (Eurostat).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2018/974 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on statistics of goods transport by inland waterways (codification) (OJ L 179, 16.7.2018, pp. 14-29)