EFIP welcomes European action on climate change impact
Press Releases
29 October 2026
Europe’s droughts are stalling Europe’s inland shipping and its key industries: inland ports call for a Europe-wide response.
The European Federation of Inland Ports (EFIP) welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for a European Climate Resilience Law, presented on 27 October 2026. EFIP urges the European Parliament and the Council to ensure the final text addresses the long summer droughts that now repeatedly cut Europe’s inland waterway transport.
The Commission’s framework sets a common warming trajectory for risk assessments, requires national climate risk assessments by 2029 and national resilience plans by the end of 2030, and obliges neighbouring Member States to consult each other on transboundary risks. The Commission cites economic losses of around €200 billion in the EU between 2022 and 2025.
“Low water is not a local problem and its impact is growing,” said Uwe Kühn, President of EFIP. “When a river drops, barges must carry less, costs per tonne rise and, at the worst moments, cargo stops. Key European industries stall as a result and become less competitive. Inland shipping is a cross-border sector, so the response has to be European.”
Why is this essential ?
- Inland ports are supply lines for core industries. Chemicals, steel, energy, construction materials and agri-food rely on barge transport for bulk cargo.
- Droughts directly stifle production. Reduced loads and halted sailings raise input costs and can force plants to slow output.
- There is no easy fallback. Road and rail often lack the spare capacity to absorb cargo moved off the water at short notice.
- Droughts and floods alternate. The same ports and fairways must withstand extremely low and extremely high water in the future.
What EFIP is asking for:
- Name inland waterways and ports. The proposal lists “critical transport systems” and “water security” as policy areas but never mentions inland navigation. EFIP asks for explicit reference, so that low- and high-water navigability is assessed and planned for.
- Plan by river basin, across borders. Transboundary consultation should build on existing basin and waterway cooperation, with shared scenarios for low and high water.
- Set measurable targets. National plans should include objectives and indicators for fairway availability in extreme conditions, with clear responsible authorities.
- Fund resilience. Plans must identify investment needs and financing sources. EFIP calls for EU funding in the next budget for fairway maintenance, port flood protection and low-water-adapted logistics.
For further information, please contact the Secretariat: +32 2 219 82 07 - info@inlandports.beVisit our website: www.inlandports.eu
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