DEVELOPMENT OF INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORT IN CROATIA THROUGH EUROPEAN FUNDS AND PROGRAMS

Rijeĉni promet kao vid unutarnjeg prijevoza doţivljava novu eru u svojemu razvoju. Sve više zemalja okreće se sve većem iskorištavanju unutarnjih plovnih putova. Do sada je ova grana prometa bila zanemarena te se nije dovoljno izuĉavala. Rijeĉni promet je ekonomiĉan, ekološki osviješten te eksploatacijski isplativ za prijevoz tereta unutarnjim putovima te predstavlja veliku konkurenciju cestovnom i ţeljezniĉkom prometu. Europska unija je prepoznala mogućnosti rijeĉnog prometa te potiĉe svoje ĉlanice putem programa i fondova na poboljšanje i uspostavljanje modernog rijeĉnog prometa. Republika Hrvatska prepoznala je na vrijeme mogućnosti koje pruţaju programi i fondovi EU, stoga se rijeĉni promet aktivno razvija u RH. Modernizacijom unutarnjih luĉkih sustava te uspostavljanjem plovnosti na rijekama sa Europskom regulativnom, promet RH razvija se i postaje konkurentan uz bok drugih razvijenih zemalja. RH ĉeka realizacija velikih projekta koji joj pruţaju stabilnost i pozitivan razvoj prometnog sektora.River traffic, as a form of inland transportation, is experiencing a new era in its development. More countries are looking into increasing the use of inland waterways. This branch of traffic has been neglected. River traffic is cost-effective, environmentally friendly and profitable and represents a great competition for road and rail traffic. The European Union has recognized the possibilities of river transport and it encourages its members to improve and establish modern river transportation through programs and funds. The Republic of Croatia has recognized the opportunities offered by EU, so the river traffic is undergoing an active development in Croatia. By modernizing the inland waterway port systems and by establishing inland waterways in compliance with the European Regulatory, the traffic in Croatia is constantly developing and becoming competitive with other countries. After this major projects are finished it is believed it will have a great impact on the entire country, its economy and especially the improvement of the transport sector