Voies Navigables d’Europe (VNE) / Inland Waterways of Europe brings together 10 partners from around the continent with the aim of furthering the sustainable development of Europe’s canals, rivers and lakes, with a focus on tourism, recreation, heritage thus supporting urban and rural regeneration. VNE is funded through the European Union INTERREG IIIC programme.
VNE undertakes a number of activities to take forward its aims. These are:-
- A series of studies and investigations into specific topics of relevance to recreational and heritage waterways and their role in regional policy.
- The piloting of the establishment of European Recreation Navigation Observatory, as a repository of technical & statistical information concerning tourism, recreation & cultural heritage on inland waterways.
- A series of workshops, seminars and conferences, with associated study visits to disseminate good practice and exchange experience between partners and other organisations with an interest in the development of the waterways of Europe.
- A dissemination and publicity programme to promote both the inland waterway resource and the results of the project to interested administrations and professionals.
A key element of the work of VNE consists of a series of studies and investigations into recreational waterways and their role in regional development. Investigations into all 5 identified topics are completed. For more information please click here.
- Inland Wateways in Britain
Lessons learnt from other Interreg projects
British Waterways (UK) has carried out an review of the emerging results from relevant projects under the INTERREG II and III programmes, covering cross-border, transnational and inter-regional co-operation. This will be further updated as more existing INTERREG projects come to completion. To look at some of the issues raised in practice, Varmland County Council (Sweden) is undertaking a planning strategy for the development of boating and other tourism on the waterways connected to Lake Vänern. This draws upon experiences and good practice from the other INTERREG projects and considers how the isolated inland waterways of Sweden can be better linked to the rest of the European waterway network.
Review of the classification of recreational waterways in Europe and the identification of gaps / bottlenecks in the network
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has proposed a resolution concerning the establishment of a dimensional classification system for recreational waterways, effectively extending the current European Commission of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) classification for large freight waterways to 4 classes of smaller, primarily recreational canals and rivers. The practical implications of such a system have been reviewed through a number of INTERREG IIIB projects. Under VNE work is underway to identify and map the recreational network of Europe as a whole. From this gaps and bottlenecks in the network, such as missing links and currently un-navigable historic waterways will be identified. This study is being led by SRN (Netherlands) and contain comprehensive information provided by national authorities.
Review of issues and solutions to problems concerning environmental boating
Although inland waterways are comparatively benign environmentally, boating can give rise to adverse environmental impacts - atmospheric emissions; water pollution; ecological damage. Many of these impacts are being touched on through other INTERREG IIIB projects and a broad overview of impacts has been prepared under VNE. The Water Framework Directive now requires us to take measures to mitigate negative impacts on water ecology, as well as chemical quality, resulting from water use by, amongst other things, navigation. Therefore some additional research has been commissioned to investigate possible mitigation measures for smaller recreational waterways. The project is led by British Waterways (UK).
- Canal de Castilla, Spain
Benchmarking of recreational and heritage waterways in the new Member States
This study deals with the management and development of waterways in the new Members States. A questionnaire has been sent out by VKKI (Hungary) to administrations in each of the countries.
Multi-functional use of inland waterways
Water has many functions. Tourism, recreation and the conservation of heritage are just a few of the aspects of the use of inland water bodies, along with freight and passenger transport, water use & supply, and land drainage & flood control. This study - led by Waterwegen &Zeekanaal (Flandern-Belgium) - is about identifying those waterways in Europe that are most important for recreational use and heritage quality.
European Recreational Navigation Observatory (ERNO)
Also a feasibility study has been undertaken into the establishment of a European Recreational Navigation Observatory (ERNO). The outcome of this study is being reviewed by the VNE partnership to consider how to take such an Observatory forward.
- Telemark Canal, Norway
