[Not Active] Danube-Oder-Elbe Connection

A part of the project is included in EU Priorities (TEN-T). However, according to the European Green Deal, rail and inland waterways should carry 75% of inland freight by 2050. This shift to sustainable and smart mobility requires, inter alia, boosted investments into waterways and will make it one of the priorities of the EU.

According to feasibility studies, which have been or are being prepared in each of the participating countries – i.e. the Czech Republic, Republic of Poland and Slovak Republic, it turns out that the water corridor would bring positive benefits not only in Central Europe, but also in other European areas (broader Central and South-Eastern Europe Connecting waterways, which are presently disconnected/blind, would be far-reaching stimuli for a further development of transportation in the Black, Baltic and Adriatic Sea Basins.

The project has gotten its strategic significance as, eventually, it would provide access to the LNG terminal in Swinoujscie for Central Europe. In the context of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, it may strongly contribute to decreasing dependence on Russian natural gas.

Furthermore, the project has increased its relevance for the EU. Alternative/multimodal types of transport infrastructure, i.e. waterways, need a boost, as stated in The European Green Deal: ”_As a matter of priority, a substantial part of the 75% of inland freight carried today by road should shift onto rail and inland waterways. This will require measures to manage better, and to increase the capacity of railways and inland waterways, which the Commission will propose by 202_1.”

Project aims at constructing of the new transport infrastructure. New technologies are envisaged. The Czech Republic cooperates with the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Poland within the Monitoring Committee.

Regional coordinators in the Czech Republic have been already involved. Appointment of the Oder Waterway Coordinator on the level of Government is expected. Description of beneficiaries will be specified in the further stage.