Inland waterway transport: Community fleet capacity policy

Parliament adopted without debate the report by Mrs Agnes SCHIERHUBER (EPP, A) on the extension of the 'Old for New' arrangements until 28 April 1999 in the context of the measures to promote structural improvements in inland waterway transport. In its amendments Parliament stressed that it was necessary to ensure that the scrapping scheme did not result in the disappearance of all smaller vessels which were able to use even the smallest ports and waterways, as such vessels might play an increasing role in the transport chain. Parliament also called for the reserve fund to be used in the course of the measures referred to in Article 8 of the Regulation only if unanimously requested by the organisations representing inland waterway transport at Community level, after opinions from the Member States concerned. �