10. 12. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 305/39 COUNCIL DECISION of 29 October 1993 on the creation of a trans-European inland waterway network (93/630/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 75 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas it is essential for the proper functioning of the internal market that the Community’s transport infrastructure between major seaports and the industrialized regions of the European hinterland be improved and made more efficient, in particular through the development of an inland waterway freight transport network; Whereas it is necessary to coordinate properly the objectives of the trans-European inland waterway network with those of Community regional policy; Whereas inland waterways should play a greater role in trade, since they offer a less expensive, less-polluting and low energy-consuming mode of transport; Whereas there is considerable spare vessel and infrastructure capacity in this sector and it is a mode which lends itself to use with other modes of transport; Whereas a plan must be drawn up to ensure technical consistency between waterways and to define the priority measures to be taken in order to develop a European inland waterway network; Whereas action should focus on the links which carry most freight traffic in the Community; Whereas the plans of transport infrastructure networks are of an indicative nature and may be changed, and aim (') OJ No C 236, 15. 9. 1992, p. 19. (%) Opinion delivered on 26 October 1993 (not yet published in the Official Journal). ) OJ No C 19, 25. 1. 1993, p. 32. at the gradual achievement of a multimodal transport system; Whereas the proposals which the Commission will subsequently submit to the Council establishing a series of guidelines for trans-European networks in the transport-infrastructure sector will contain the criteria which will form the basis for selecting the measures or projects to be incorporated in the various networks; Whereas, with a view to a possible contribution by the Community to the financing of the projects provided for by this Decision within the framework of specific financial instruments for transport infrastructure, provision should be made for a cost-benefit analysis of the projects, taking into consideration their economic, social and environmental benefits, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: "Article 1 The trans-European inland waterway network shall incorporate existing river basins and a number of major traffic arteries using rivers and canals and the branches and links which connect them. It shall in particular serve industrial regions and major conurbations and link up with the major seaports. The minimum technical specifications adopted for the network’s waterways shall correspond to Class IV (4). Where an inland waterway forming part of this network is modernized or created, the technical specifications should correspond at least to Class IV and permit subsequent transition to Class Va/Vb (°) and the passage in a satisfactory way of vessels used for combined transport. The network shall be developed as specified in the plan shown on the map in the Annex. () Class IV: waterway permitting the passage of vessels or pushed convoys 80 to 85 m in length and with a beam of 9,50 m. (°) Class Va: waterway permitting the passage of vessels or pushed convoys 110 m in length and with a beam of 11,40 m. - Class Vb: waterway permitting the passage of pushed convoys 172 to 185 m in length and with a beam of 11,40 m.