What changed between the plenary report and the adopted text

Removed:Recital 5: (5) Given that the majority of journeys of inland vessels are of international nature, RIS should be focused on those inland waterways being a part of the TEN-T and thus of high importance for the Union. Member States should be able to continue extending, on a voluntary basis, the RIS requirements to parts of their inland waterways network other than those included in the TEN-T to account for national specificities. Member States should also be able to provide RIS services in a cross-border context by either of the two Member States concerned. The competent Member States’ authorities should cooperate for the purpose of the provision of those RIS services on cross-border inland waterways.

Added:(As an agreement was reached between Parliament and Council, Parliament's position corresponds to the final legislative act, Directive (EU) 2025/2482.)

Removed:Recital 6: (6) The experience gained from the application of Directive 2005/44/EC showed that it is important to strengthen the technical specifications concerning the provision of data on navigation and voyage planning, in order to improve the quality and timeliness of information provided to RIS users. The European Reference Data Management System (‘ERDMS’) provides reference data and code lists necessary for the proper functioning of RIS.

Removed:Recital 8: (8) In order for RIS to allow for interconnection with the logistics chain, it is important that interfaces are established not only between the inland waterway transport systems, but also with systems and applications of other modes of transport. The Maritime National Single Windows (‘MNSW’) within the European Maritime Single Window environment (‘EMSWe’)12 should enable harmonised ship reporting across the Union in maritime transport. The exchange of traffic related information, such as arrival and departure times, would ensure interoperability, multimodality, and smooth integration of inland waterway transport (IWT) with the overall logistics chain. The electronic freight transport information (‘eFTI’) should form the basis for the exchange of cargo information on dangerous goods and waste between RIS users where required. When necessary, RIS should facilitate links with, and should make information available to, systems and platforms of other modes of transport.

Removed:Recital 9: (9) The exchange of information between inland waterway vessels and inland ports, for example on availability of port installations, operating times, or vessel and cargo information is not always optimal, which impacts the efficiency of IWT operations. Information on the availability of alternative fuel infrastructure in ports is of particular importance in promoting the environmental performance of the sector. In order to simplify and streamline the exchange of such information and improve the overall efficiency of the sector, it is important that standardised interfaces are established to become part of RIS and that the necessary technical specifications are developed

Removed:Recital 11 a (new): (11a) Cooperation with third countries, in particular neighbouring countries, is relevant in order to ensure connection and interoperability between the RIS Platform and those third countries´ national RIS. Member States should actively seek such cooperation with neighbouring third countries and encourage their involvement in cross-border projects, provided they adhere to the same level of cybersecurity.

Removed:Recital 12: (12) In order to ensure the proper and effective application of Directive 2005/44/EC and to avoid fragmentation and regulatory burden resulting from its uneven application, Member States should ensure that an effective procedure is in place to handle complaints. Where possible, this should be based on existing feedback mechanisms in order to avoid any additional administrative and financial burden. Member States’ authorities should cooperate when handling complaints involving cross-border elements (for example, incompatible standards in reporting of vessel information), as 75% of inland waterways operations includes international voyages. By analysing the subject matter of the complaints, as well as their frequency and the way and timeliness of their resolution, it can be possible to identify the extent to which the provisions of the Directive are complied with, thus supporting the monitoring of implementation by pointing to areas where implementation can be improved. It is therefore important that this information is collected and reported by the Member States to the Commission an annual basis. Any handling of complaints under this directive should be without prejudice of the competence of supervisory authorities under Union and Member States laws, including Regulation (EU) 2016/67914 and Regulation (EU) 2018/172515.

Removed:Recital 14: (14) The requirements and technical specifications for the purposes of RIS should ensure in particular that RIS data, which constitute personal data under Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council, can be processed solely in accordance with a comprehensive, rights-based access-control system that provides assigned functionalities, that all competent authorities can have immediate access to that data in accordance with their respective regulatory competences, that appropriate technical and organisational measures are implemented to ensure that the processing by electronic means of personal data can be carried out in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council , including to protect against personal data breaches and that the processing of sensitive commercial information can be carried out in a way that respects the confidentiality of that information.

Removed:Recital 15: (15) In order to ensure the safe and optimal navigation of vessels in inland waterways, Member States should be aware of the position of all inland waterway vessels including through the use of automatic identification systems (‘AIS’) data. Member States should also exchange RIS related information to increase the efficiency of RIS and reduce reporting requirements. Where transmission and exchange of RIS related information for these purposes cannot be achieved without processing of personal data, such as the processing of names or the processing of location data, which allows to identify directly or indirectly a person, Member States should ensure the lawfulness of the processing of those personal data in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and Directive 2002/58/EC, where applicable.

Removed:Recital 26: (26) The European Data Protection Supervisor was consulted in accordance with Article 42(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council and delivered an opinion on 20 March 2024

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1, Article 1 – paragraph 2: 2. This Directive provides a framework for the establishment and further development of technical requirements, specifications and conditions to ensure harmonised, interoperable and open RIS on the Union inland waterways and facilitate continuity with other modal traffic management services, through the use of standardised interfaces.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 2, Article 2 – paragraph 1: 1. This Directive applies to the implementation and operation of RIS on all inland waterways and inland ports of the Member States which are part of the trans-European transport network, as specified and listed in Annex I and II to Regulation (EU) No 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council23 and which are directly connected to inland waterways and inland ports of another Member State, which are part of the trans-European transport network, as specified and listed in Annexes I and II to Regulation (EU) No 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council. / 23 Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1153 and (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 (OJ L, 2024/1679, 28.6.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1679/oj).

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point ha: (ha) ‘trans-European transport network’ (TEN-T) means inland waterways as defined in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2024/1679;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point hb: deleted / (deleted)

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point hc: deleted / (deleted)

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point hd: deleted

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point he: (he) ‘European Reference Data Management System’ (ERDMS) means a single point of access repository (library) of reference data and codes lists that are used by IT applications in inland waterway transport operated by the Commission. It does not include the network data provided by the Member State in accordance with Annexes I and III;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point hh: (hh) ‘RIS Platform’ means an electronic single-point-of-access platform sourced by national RIS information and providing technical and operational services such as Fairway-, Infrastructure-, Traffic- and Transport Information Services, including route- and transport planning, for RIS users and serving for electronic reporting according to the ‘once-only’ principle;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point hi: (hi) ‘Inland ports’ means an inland waterway port of the TEN-T core network or TEN-T comprehensive network, as listed and categorised in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 2024/1679.’

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point a: (a) ensure that all relevant data are supplied to RIS users concerning navigation and voyage planning on inland waterways. These network data, as defined in Annex I, shall be up-to-date and provided at least in an accessible common electronic format in accordance with Annex III;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point b: (b) ensure that for all their inland waterways and inland ports of the TEN-T, in addition to the data referred to in point (a), electronic navigational charts suitable for navigational purposes are available to RIS users;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point c: (c) enable, as far as ship reporting is required by national or international regulations, the competent authorities to receive electronic ship reports of all required data from ships. In cross-border transport, this information shall be transmitted in full to the competent authorities of the neighbouring State and any such transmission shall be completed before arrival of the vessels at the border;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point e: (e) ensure that the network data in the European RIS Platform is kept up to date by supplying all the necessary network data in accordance with Annexes I and III without delay;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point f: (f) ensure that at least traffic related information is made available through interfaces following the technical specifications laid down in accordance with Annex II, point 7, where applicable, to electronic information exchange environments established by Union law and used in other transport modes;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point g: deleted / (deleted)

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point h: (h) ensure that standardised interfaces in accordance with Annexes II and III are made available for the port community systems of inland ports, including, among others, up-to-date, availability of berths, and of alternative fuel infrastructure, and in particular those installations required pursuant to Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 of the European Parliament and of the Council27 ;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1 – point i: (i) ensure that standardised interfaces in accordance with Annexes II and III are made available to other smart inland waterways infrastructure systems for the purpose of managing of river traffic.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 5: 5. Member States shall create, operate, use and maintain a single RIS Platform which provides fairway-, infrastructure-, traffic-, and transport related services and provide the necessary data. The RIS Platform shall be accessible for all RIS users and shall be the main platform for the exchange of RIS related information. It shall contain interfaces for connections with systems of other transport modes and inland ports. Member States shall designate one or more competent authorities responsible for operating RIS Platform. The RIS platform shall be open to contributions from third countries whose waterways are connected to the European waterway network willing to cooperate and provide their network data, provided that the data is of identical quality and format as that of Member States. Contributing third countries shall be able to use and benefit from the ERDMS and the RIS platform in the same manner as Member States, provided they adhere to the same level of cybersecurity.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 5 a (new): 5a. ERDMS provides reference data and code lists necessary for the proper functioning of RIS.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 6: 6. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down the operational characteristics, roles and procedures for the RIS platform including its interaction with ERDMS and identifying its operating entity, based on the principles for RIS technical specifications set out in point 7 of Annex II, to ensure their uniform implementation throughout the Union. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 11(2).

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 7: 7. For the use of the automatic identification systems (‘AIS’), the Regional Arrangement on the Radio Communication Service for Inland Waterways (RAINWAT) concluded in Bucharest on 12 April 2012 in the framework of the radio regulations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) shall apply.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4, Article 4 – paragraph 9: 9. The Commission shall take appropriate measures to verify the interoperability, reliability, availability and safety of RIS.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5, Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point h: (h) standardised interfaces for IT platforms of other transport modes;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5, Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point i: (i) standardised interface for port management systems and smart inland waterway infrastructure systems;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5, Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point j: (j) data for navigation, and voyage planning.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5 a (new), Article 6: (5a) Article 6 is replaced by the following: / "Article 6 / For the purpose of RIS, for which exact positioning is required, the use of satellite positioning technologies is recommended, provided by Galileo, including the High Accuracy Service and Open Service Navigation Message Authentication and the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). For the purpose of applications and services relying on Earth observation data, the use of Copernicus data, information or services is recommended."

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7, Article 8a – paragraph 1: 1. Each Member State shall ensure that an effective, simple and accessible procedure is in place, building, where possible, on existing structures, to handle complaints arising from the application of this Directive.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7, Article 8a – paragraph 8: 8. Member States shall inform the Commission on an annual basis about the number and type of complaints received by the authorities responsible for handling of complaints, the number of corrective actions taken, justifications for the cases, where no corrective action has been taken and the time required to resolve complaints.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8, Article 9 – title: Rules on privacy, security of information and processing of personal data

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8, Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new): Data that constitute personal data as defined in Article 4, point (1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 may be processed on the basis of this Directive only insofar as such processing is necessary for the performance of RIS applications, with a view to ensuring harmonised, interoperable and accessible RIS on the Union inland waterways and to facilitate standardised interfaces with other modal traffic management services.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9, Article 10 – paragraph 2: deleted

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 14, Article 12a – paragraph 1 a (new): The Commission shall, if appropriate, by ... [3 years after the date of entry into force] submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the potential benefits and costs of extending the scope of this Directive to those inland waterways and inland ports of the Member States, which are part of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) but are not covered by Article 2(1).

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex I, Annex I – indent 5 a (new): – location and current availability of alternative fuels infrastructure, including shore-side electricity supply;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex II, Annex II – article 6 – point h: (h) collect and report anonymised and aggregate usage data that can be used for the monitoring of the implementation of RIS, including at least the number of RIS users, data availability in RIS platform, connection and the number of exchanges with other systems or platforms.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex II, Annex II – article 6 – point h a (new): (ha) ensure cybersecurity.

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex II, Annex II – article 7 – title: 7. Availability of data for other digital systems or platforms

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex II, Annex II – article 7 – introductory part: The technical specifications for exchange of data with other digital systems or platforms in accordance with Article 5, shall respect the following principles:

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex II, Annex II – article 7 – point b: (b) the facilitation of the electronic data exchange between RIS technologies and the databases and systems in use by other modes of transport, through appropriate data links and interfaces;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex II, Annex II – article 8: deleted / (deleted) / (deleted) / (deleted) / (deleted) / (deleted) / (deleted) / (deleted)

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex II, Annex II – article 9 – point b – point a a (new): (aa) data on the European waterway network required for navigation and voyage planning and covering at least the minimum requirements set out in Annex I;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex II, Annex II – article 9 – point b – point b: (b) water level, the least sounded depth, the vertical clearance, the barrage status if blocking navigation, the regime, the predicted water level, the least sounded predicted depth or the predicted discharge;

Removed:Directive 2005/44/EC

Removed:Annex III, Annex III – paragraph 1: The technical specifications applicable to RIS shall be those set out in the latest edition of ES-RIS adopted by CESNI.

Removed:The Rapporteur supports the intention of the Commission to bring the Directive on harmonised river information services (RIS) on inland waterways up to date. Further digitalisation and reduction of administrative burden for users and authorities are of paramount importance for the further strengthening of inland waterway transport. The generally positive reactions from stakeholders are a good sign to this effect.

Removed:As the current RIS Directive has been lacking proper implementation and its application differed significantly between Member States, your Rapporteur proposes a number of changes in his draft report.

Removed:Any development in the role and place of electronic freight trade information (eFTI) should be addressed via a cross-sectoral review of the eFTI Regulation and should not just be imposed on inland waterway transport via this Directive. To interconnect these services prematurely, without other transport modes being ready, would risk additional problems in the development and implementation of river information services. The same goes for the proposed interconnection with the European Maritime Single Window. With the proposals in this draft, the Rapporteur aims to be prescient for further developments and synergies between platforms and services, without being prejudicial on their development.

Removed:On the one hand, the Rapporteur regards the handling of complaints as an important tool to defend the interests of RIS users and to flag problems. On the other hand, it is important to avoid unnecessary bureaucracy. The Rapporteur therefore proposes to build on existing national feedback mechanisms for the implementation of this Directive.

Removed:Finally, your Rapporteur proposes a pragmatic approach on the geographical scope of this proposal. Inland waterways and inland ports in the Union that are isolated from the rest of the TEN-T inland waterways network should not be drawn into the remit of this Directive. This will allow us to focus on those inland waterways and ports that are part of a cross-border network, thus making a European approach essential, while safeguarding the possibility for voluntary application by Member States on those inland waterways that are not connected. This approach should, however, not only be applied by the Member States. Active cooperation to ensure interoperability between the RIS Platform and the RIS of neighbouring third countries is necessary.

Removed:With these changes, your Rapporteur aims to contribute to the competitiveness of inland waterway transport and its modal share, leading in consequence to less congestion on our roads and a more sustainable European transport system.