Danube shipping: Increasing political pressure for Hungary
Transport Ministers make an appeal for Hungary to waive the restrictions for shipping on the Danube and to sign the “Danube Declaration“
At the meeting of the transport ministers of the Danube riparian states on 7 June in Luxemburg, Doris Bures, Austria’s Minister of Transport, made an appeal to Hungary, to waive the restrictions for shipping on the Danube, which are unjustified from the point of view of Austria and other riparian states of the Danube. Hungary initiated a regulation effective of March, limiting the draught to 250 centimetres and push tows to a maximum of four barges (instead of six), without naming any reasons.
As for cargo transport on the waterway this means a loss of capacity of up to 50 per cent, and that costs will double. “For Austria’s enterprises, which import and export seven million tons of goods on the Danube each year, this triggers severe economic disadvantages“, says Bures. This affects mainly shipments through Hungary, in particular transportations of steel or heavy bulk cargo such as ores, coal, fertilisers and grains.
At the meeting of the transport ministers of the Danube riparian states, in which participated also Siim Kallas, EU Transport Minister and Johannes Hahn, EU Regional Commissioner, Bures made an appeal to Hungary to “ensure conditions for an economic shipping business in a dialogue with the other riparian states of the Danube".
The meeting of the Danube riparian states was initiated by the European Union, to maintain the navigation channel and improve the coordination of the Danube riparian states. In addition to Austria, also Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldavia and Croatia participated in the meeting. With the exception of Hungary all participating transport ministers signed the „Danube Declaration“, showing their commitment to maintain the channels, cross border coordination and exchange of information and data among each other. Also Serbia, which was not able to participate due to its current formation of the government, ensured its support of the declaration.
Quelle: LogEastics
Portal: www.logistik-express.com