 Environmental Versus Economic Effects of Inland Water Freight Transport Development in the EUAndrzej S. Grzelakowski European Research Studies Journal, 2025, vol. XXVIII, issue 4, 559-574 Abstract: Purpose: The main aim of the research is to assess the impact of the inland water freight transport development on the EU economy, as well as environment, by comparing it with other modes of transport. Methodology: To conduct this data-driven research, the following methods were applied: 1. critical literature analysis, 2 Data mining and analysis, 3. market analysis and 4. comparative analysis. Findings: The research results indicate that inland water freight transport which share in the EU transport market is already marginal and systematically decreasing, has little importance for the economy of the EU. It plays more significant role for the trasnsport sector and the econom only in a few countries. Simultaneously, this mode of transport generates a relatively low level of GHG emissions. However, this positive feature is losing its importance due to numerous disruptions impacting inland water navigation, lowering its operational potential, caused by unpredictable weather and climatic conditions. As a result, there is a large difference between the economic effects that inland navigation generates for the transport and logistics sector as well as the EU economy on one hand and the regulatory support it receives on the other. Practical Implications: The disproportionately low economic and environmental benefits of inland waterway freight development compared to other modes of transport indicate the need to shift some of the forms of support provided to it towards rail and intermodal transport. This would be a more efficient path to a faster energy transformation of the EU transport sector, accelerating at the same time economic and social benefits forEUs economy. Originality/Value: This study indicates the need for a significant change in the regulatory system of the EU transport sector. It should be more strongly reoriented towards the implementation of the sustainable development strategy, and not only, as the regulator currently pushes for, the environmental strategy, which is only its segment based on ecological standards. Without making this change and managing it properly, the EU will not only fail to achieve the assumed energy transformation goals in the transport sector, but also, by continuing the current narrow formula for implementing the sustainable development strategy, lead to deep and, in many cases, negative structural changes of an economic and social nature in transport sector. Keywords: EU inland water freight transport; environmental effects; economic and social effects; modal versus sectoral transport regulation. (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ers:journl:v:xxviii:y:2025:i:4:p:559-574 Access Statistics for this article More articles in European Research Studies Journal from European Research Studies Journal |
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