Business insists on revising the Draft Law on Inland Waterway Transport

24/ 04/ 2020

Today, on April 24, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in its first reading the draft Law No. 1182-1-d “On Inland Waterway Transport” as a basis. The European Business Association welcomes the launch of the river transport reform. At the same time, it should be noted again that the business community has significant reservations about the text of the draft law and requests to take into account the experts remarks between the first and second reading. According to the business, the draft law contains provisions, that when adopted and implemented, could adversely affect the development of the inland waterway industry. Adoption of the document in its current version will not lead to the expected positive impact on the industry, such as an increase in inland waterway freight transportation, an increase in investments in the construction of ships, river terminals, etc. The main conceptual comments of the EBA experts relate to the financing of inland waterways at the expense of port fees, the introduction of additional licensing and overregulation of business environment, regulatory complications of construction, the risk of power abuse and other provisions that need to be further revised according to the EBA member companies. In addition, certain provisions of the document do not fully correspond to structural reform policies for deregulation and the fight against corruption. It is worth recalling that the EBA supported the adoption of this draft law in the first reading provided its further professional revision. Therefore, the representatives of the EBA Logistics Committee are ready to share their expertise and expect to participate in the profile working groups of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Infrastructure to prepare the draft law for the second reading in the near future.

Today, on April 24, the Verkhovna Rada adopted in its first reading the draft Law No. 1182-1-d “On Inland Waterway Transport” as a basis.

The European Business Association welcomes the launch of the river transport reform. At the same time, it should be noted again that the business community has significant reservations about the text of the draft law and requests to take into account the experts’ remarks between the first and second reading. According to the business, the draft law contains provisions, that when adopted and implemented, could adversely affect the development of the inland waterway industry. Adoption of the document in its current version will not lead to the expected positive impact on the industry, such as an increase in inland waterway freight transportation, an increase in investments in the construction of ships, river terminals, etc.

The main conceptual comments of the EBA experts relate to the financing of inland waterways at the expense of port fees, the introduction of additional licensing and overregulation of business environment, regulatory complications of construction, the risk of power abuse and other provisions that need to be further revised according to the EBA member companies. In addition, certain provisions of the document do not fully correspond to structural reform policies for deregulation and the fight against corruption.

It is worth recalling that the EBA supported the adoption of this draft law in the first reading provided its further professional revision. Therefore, the representatives of the EBA Logistics Committee are ready to share their expertise and expect to participate in the profile working groups of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Infrastructure to prepare the draft law for the second reading in the near future.