Where the law stands, Dossier 2024/0011(COD)
Inland waterway transport: River Information Systems (RIS)
Amending Directive 2005/44/EC on harmonised river information services (RIS) on inland waterways in the Community
Ordinary legislative procedure (COD): Parliament and the Council decide together as equals. · First reading
A proposed EU law. Parliament and the Council must agree on the same text: Parliament adopts its position, then negotiates with the Council.
Where it stands
Published as law
Completed: published in the Official Journal on 12 December 2025 and now EU law.
- Referred to committee(done) 29 February 2024
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 18 March 2025
- Tabled for plenary(done) 20 March 2025
- Negotiations with the Council(done) Deal approved in committee 16 July 2025
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 7 October 2025
- Published as law(done) 12 December 2025
Decided in plenary
7 October 2025 · decision 2
Economy & single market, New EU law
Inland waterway transport: River Information Systems (RIS)
Passed 636 for · 10 against · 4 abstained by an overwhelming majority
AI summary:The position includes changes to reduce administrative burden, improve implementation, and avoid premature interconnection with other systems.
What changed
Committee draft → Tabled for plenary
AI summary:The directive now requires member states to provide electronic navigational charts and network data for all TEN-T waterways and ports, and to keep the European RIS Platform updated. New definitions are added for TEN-T, ERDMS, and inland ports, while the definition of RIS Platform is moved and expanded to allow third-country contributions. The complaints procedure is strengthened with annual reporting, and the Commission must report on extending the scope to other TEN-T waterways. The directive adds provisions on satellite positioning and Earth observation, and clarifies data processing for personal data. The other changes are formal or wording: updated references to the TEN-T regulation, renumbering, and minor rephrasing.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Transport and Tourism
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Mep #197778 (EPP)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- François Kalfon (S&D), Rachel Blom (Patriots), Kris van Dijck (ECR), Valérie Devaux (Renew), Kai Tegethoff (Greens), Merja Kyllönen (The Left)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 7 Oct 2025
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive updating EU rules on harmonised river information services (RIS) for inland waterway transport. It sets out technical requirements, data-sharing rules and interoperability standards to improve safety, efficiency and digitalisation of inland navigation.
Tabled for plenary· 20 Mar 2025
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive updating EU rules on harmonised river information services (RIS) for inland waterways. It focuses RIS on TEN-T waterways, allows voluntary extension, and adds cross-border cooperation.
Committee draft· 19 Dec 2024
AI summary:The draft report proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal to update the Directive on harmonised river information services (RIS) on inland waterways, focusing on interoperability, data sharing, and reducing administrative burden.
Timeline
Newest first.
Outcome 2 steps
12 December 2025
Published in the Official Journal
The act is now EU law.
26 November 2025
Signed by the Presidents of Parliament and the Council
The last step before the act is published in the Official Journal.
Plenary stage 2 steps
7 October 2025
Plenary vote
Sitting of 7 Oct 2025 Adopted text TA10-0210/2025Report A10-0033/2025
1 October – 3 October 2025
54 amendments tabled for the plenary vote
Groups propose changes to the tabled text; each is voted on before the final vote.
Negotiations with the Council 3 steps
16 July 2025
Committee approved the deal reached with the Council
The provisional agreement from the trilogues goes to the whole Parliament for a vote.
26 June 2025
Trilogue meeting
Negotiation between Parliament, Council and Commission on a common text.
2 April 2025
Plenary endorsed the mandate to negotiate with the Council
Parliament’s negotiators can now seek a compromise text with the Council (in “trilogues”).
Plenary stage 1 step
20 March 2025
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 4 steps
18 March 2025
Committee vote: report adopted
TRAN (Transport and Tourism) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
4 February 2025
Amendments tabled in committee
Members of TRAN (Transport and Tourism) proposed changes to the draft.
19 December 2024
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in TRAN (Transport and Tourism). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
29 February 2024
Referred to the TRAN (Transport and Tourism) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2024/0011(COD)